LIB  R  A  RY 

OK   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

GIRT    OR 

RtceivW     OCT  271892    ,  l8g .   . 
Accessions  No.  V^^lS.      Shelf  No.  & 'j~J"~       ^ 


THE 


TWO  ADMIRALS. 

1  Colt 

BY     J.     FENIMORE     COOPER. 


Come,  all  ye  kindred  chieftains  of  the  deep, 
In  mighty  phalanx  round  your  brother  bend; 
Hush  every  murmur  that  invades  his  sleep, 
And  guard  the  laurel  that  o'ershades  your  friend. 

Lin**  on  Trippe. 


VOL  UMJf. 


(NEW    EDITION. 


NEW   YORK: 
STRINGER      AND     TOWNSEND 

1856. 


TWO  ADMIRALS. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1842,  by 

J.  FENIMOKK  COOPER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and  fof 
the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


»x^7 

i^f 

PREFACE. 


AMONG  all  the  sea- tales  that  the  last  twenty  years 
have  produced,  we  know  of  none  in  which  the  evolu 
tions  of  fleets  have  formed  any  material  feature.  The 
world  has  many  admirably  drawn  scenes,  in  which 
pictures  of  the  manosuvres  of  single  ships,  and  exqui 
site  touches  of  nautical  character,  have  abounded ;  but 
every  writer  of  romance  appears  to  have  carefully 
abstained  from  dealing  with  the  profession  on  a  large 
scale.  We  have  refrained  ourselves  from  attempting 
such  a  subject,  partly  from  a  certain  consciousness  of 
incompetency ;  but  more,  perhaps,  from  a  desire,  in 
writing  of  ships,  to  write  as  much  as  possible  under 
that  flag  to  which  we  have  been  accustomed,  and  to 
which  we  properly  belong.  We  would  openly  and 
loudly  condemn  the  maudlin  patriotism  that  is  sensi 
tive  about  the  honour  of  cats  and  dogs ;  that  fancies 
it  nationality  to  extol  inferior  things,  merely  because 
they  happen  to  be  our  own ;  that  sets  up  the  extrava 
gant  doctrine  —  one  so  new  in  the  annals  of  literature 
as  to  find  its  only  apology  in  the  poor  explanation  of 
a  miserable  provincialism  —  that  vice,  folly,  vulgarity 
and  ignorance  should  not  be  rebuked  because  they 
nappen  to  be  American  vice,  folly,  vulgarity  and  igno 


X  PREFACE. 

ranee  —  the  best  possible  reason  why  they  ought  to  be 
rebuked  by  all  American  pens ;  and  which  reverses  the 
liberality  of  Domitian,  who  tolerated  even  Juvenal, 
while  he  confined  himself  to  satire  on  the  public  at 
large,  and  banished  him  from  Rome,  when  he  de 
scended  to  private  calumny.  The  idea,  too,  that  works 
of  fiction  must  be  written  solely  in  reference  to  the 
country  of  one's  birth,  is  another  provincial  prejudice, 
that  could  not  exist  in  a  nation  of  confirmed  character 
and  enlarged  views ;  for  which  we  entertain  as  little 
reverence,  as  for  the  indiscriminate  property-commen 
dation  just  mentioned ;  but,  our  own  feelings  may  fairly 
be  adduced  as  a  motive  for  doing  that  which,  after  all, 
must  more  or  less  depend  on  a  writer's  personal  inclina 
tions.  We  had  a  wish  to  attempt  these  pictures,  and 
the  disposition  is  a  tolerably  safe  guide  in  matters  of 
the  imagination. 

Nevertheless,  the  American  who  would  fain  write 
about  fleets,  must  be  content  to  desert  the  flag.  An 
American  fleet  never  yet  assembled.  The  republic 
possesses  the  materials  for  collecting  such  a  phenome 
non,  but  has  ever  seemed  to  be  wanting  in  the  will. 
A  strange  and  dangerous  reluctance  to  create  even  the 
military  rank  that  is  indispensable  to  the  exercise  of  a 
due  authority  over  such  a  force,  has  existed  in  the 
councils  of  the  state ;  and  had  the  name  of  this  work 
been  "  The  One  Admiral,"  instead  of  "  The  Two  Ad 
mirals,"  we  should  have  been  driven  abroad  in  quest 


PREFACE.  XI 

of  a  hero  for  our  tale.  The  legislators  of  the  country 
apparently  expect  men  will  perform  miracles  without 
the  inducements  which  usually  influence  human  beings 
to  perform  any  thing.  How  long  such  a  policy  can 
safely  be  adhered  to,  remains  to  be  demonstrated. 

While  we  assert  our  own  independence,  however, 
by  claiming  a  right  to  select  such  scenes  for  our  tales 
as  may  best  meet  our  own  impulses,  we  are  ready 
enough  to  admit  that,  in  this  instance,  we  should 
gladly  have  selected  the  national  flag  to  sail  under, 
had  the  thing  come  within  even  the  limits  of  ficti 
tious  probabilities.  If  not  actually  "  native  and  to 
the  manner  born,"  we  are  certainly,  in  this  particu 
lar,  "  to  the  -manner  bred,"  and  confess  our  decided 
preference  to  the  stars  and  stripes  (tasteless  as  may 
be  the  emblems  to  the  instructed  eye)  over  the  broad 
white  field  and  George's  cross  of  the  noble  English 
ensign ;  —  the  spotless  banner  of  France,  as  it  existed 
at  the  period  of  our  tale,  or  that  most  beautiful  of  all 
the  ensigns  that  wave  at  the  gaff-end,  the  tri-calor  of 
our  own  time.  Whenever  the  national  councils  shall 
give  us  admirals  and  fleets  to  write  about,  it  will  be 
our  delight  to  aid,  in  our  own  humble  way,  in  attempt 
ing  to  illustrate  their  deeds.  Still,  the  colonists  may 
claim  an  interest  in  all  the  renown  of  England  which 
was  earned  previously  to  1775;  and  we  leave  their 
descendants  to  dispute  with  the  present  possessors  of 
the  mother  country,  what  portion  of  the  fame  earned 


Xll  PREFACE. 

by  Oakes  and  Bluewater  shall  properly  fall  to  the 
share  of  each.  By  applying  to  our  domestic  pub 
lishers,  Lea  &  Blanchard  of  Philadelphia,  the  Ameri 
can  can  obtain  all  the  evidence  we  possess  on  the 
subject ;  and,  for  the  convenience  of  the  English,  Mr. 
Richard  Bentley,  of  New  Burlington  street,  London,  is 
furnished  with  duplicates  of  every  particle  of  authority 
on  which  this  legend  is  founded.  We  beg  the  gentle 
men  connected  with  these  two  great  publishing-houses, 
not  to  be  backward  or  reluctant  on  the  occasion ;  but 
to  communicate  freely  whatever  they  may  happen  to 
know,  to  all  applicants ;  and  more  especially  to  the 
critics,  a  class  of  writers  who,  in  general,  are  singu 
larly  assisted  by  the  aid  of  a  little  knowledge  of  the 
subjects  on  which  they  treat. 

We  hope  the  reader  will  do  us  the  justice  to  regard  the 
Two  ADMIRALS  as  a  sea-story,  and  not  as  a  love-story. 
Our  Admirals  are  our  heroes ;  and,  as  there  are  two 
of  them,  those  who  are  particularly  fastidious  on  such 
subjects,  are  quite  welcome  to  term  one  the  heroine, 
if  they  see  fit.  We  entertain  no  niggardly  love  of 
exclusion,  on  this  head,  and  leave  the  selection  entirely 
to  themselves. 

With  these  brief  explanations,  we  launch  our  fleets, 
committing  them  to  the  winds  and  waves  of  public 
opinion,  which  are  not  unfrequently  as  boisterous  and 
adverse  as  those  of  the  ocean,  and  sometimes  quite  as 
capricious. 


THE   TWO  ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

"  Then,  if  he  were  my  brother's, 
My  brother  might  not  claim  him  ;  nor  your  father, 
Being  none  of  his,  refuse  him  :  This  concludes — 
My  mother's  son  did  get  your  father's  heir ; 
Your  father's  heir  must  have  your  father's  land." 

KING  JOHN. 

THE  events  we  are  about  to  relate,  occurred  near  the 
middle  of  the  last  century,  previously  even  to  that  strug 
gle,  which  it  is  the  fashion  of  America  to  call  "  the  old 
French  War."  The  opening  scene  of  our  tale,  however, 
must  be  sought  in  the  other  hemisphere,  and  on  the  coast  of 
the  mother  country.  In  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  cen 
tury,  the  American  colonies  were  models  of  loyalty ;  the  very 
war,  to  which  there  has  just  been  allusion,  causing  the  great 
expenditure  that  induced  the  ministry  to  have  recourse  to 
the  system  of  taxation,  which  terminated  in  the  revolution. 
The  family  quarrel  had  not  yet  commenced.  Intensely  oc 
cupied  with  the  conflict,  which  terminated  not  more  glori 
ously  for  the  British  arms,  than  advantageously  for  the 
British  American  possessions,  the  inhabitants  of  the  pro 
vinces  were  perhaps  never  better  disposed  to  the  metropoli 
tan  state,  than  at  the  very  period  of  which  we  are  about  to 
write.  All  their  early  predilections  seemed  to  be  gaining 
strength,  instead  of  becoming  weaker ;  and,  as  in  nature, 
the  calm  is  known  to  succeed  the  tempest,  the  blind  attach 
ment  of  the  colony  to  the  parent  country,  was  but  a  precursor 
of  the  alienation  and  violent  disunion  that  were  so  soon  to 
follow. 

Although  the  superiority  of  the  English  seaman  was  well 
2  (13) 


14  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

established,  in  the  conflicts  that  took  place  between  the  year 
1740,  and  that  of  1763,  the  naval  warfare  of  the  period  by 
no  means  possessed  the  very  decided  character  with  which 
it  became  stamped,  a  quarter  of  a  century  later.  In  our 
own  times,  the  British  marine  appears  to  have  improved  in 
quality,  as  its  enemies'  deteriorated.  In  the  year  1812,  how 
ever,  "  Greek  met  Greek,"  when,  of  a  verity,  came  "  the 
tug  of  war.''  The  great  change  that  came  over  the  other 
navies  of  Europe,  was  merely  a  consequence  of  the  revolutions, 
which  drove  experienced  men  into  exile,  and  which,  by  ren 
dering  armies  all-important  even  to  the  existence  of  the  dif 
ferent  states,  threw  nautical  enterprises  into  the  shade,  and 
gave  an  engrossing  direction  to  courage  and  talent,  in  an 
other  quarter.  While  France  was  struggling,  first  for  inde 
pendence,  and  next  for  the  mastery  of  the  continent,  a 
marine  was  a  secondary  object ;  for  Vienna,  Berlin,  and 
Moscow,  were  as  easily  entered  without,  as  with  its  aid. 
To  these,  and  other  similar  causes,  must  be  referred  the  ex 
planation  of  the  seeming  invincibility  of  the  English  arms  at 
sea,  during  the  late  great  conflicts  of  Europe ;  an  invincibility 
that  was  more  apparent  than  real,  however,  as  many  well 
established  defeats  were,  even  then,  intermingled  with  her 
thousand  victories. 

From  the  time  when  her  numbers  could  furnish  succour 
of  this  nature,  down  to  the  day  of  separation,  America  had 
her  full  share  in  the  exploits  of  the  English  marine.  The 
gentry  of  the  colonies  willingly  placed  their  sons  in  the 
royal  navy,  and  many  a  bit  of  square  bunting  has  been 
flying  at  the  royal- mast-heads  of  King's  ships,  in  the  nine 
teenth  century,  as  the  distinguishing  symbols  of  flag-officers, 
who  had  to  look  for  their  birth-places  among  ourselves.  In 
the  course  of  a  chequered  life,  in  which  we  have  been  brought 
in  collision  with  as  great  a  diversity  of  rank,  professions,  and 
characters,  as  often  falls  to  the  lot  of  any  one  individual,  we 
have  been  thrown  into  contact  with  no  less  than  eight  Eng 
lish  admirals,  <*>f  American  birth ;  while,  it  has  never  yet 
been  our  good  fortune  to  meet  with  a  countryman,  who  has 
had  this  rank  bestowed  on  him  by  his  own  government.  On 
one  occasion,  an  Englishman,  who  had  filled  the  highest 
civil  office  connected  with  the  marine  of  his  nation,  observed 
to  us,  that  the  only  man  he  then  knew,  in  the  British  navy,  in 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  15 

whom  he  should  feel  an  entire  confidence  in  entrusting  an 
important  command,  was  one  of  these  translated  admirals ; 
and  the  thought  unavoidably  passed  through  our  mind,  that 
this  favourite  commander  had  done  well  in  adhering  to  the 
conventional,  instead  of  clinging  to  his  natural  allegiance,  in 
asmuch  as  he  might  have  toiled  for  half-a-century,  in  the 
service  of  his  native  land,  and  been  rewarded  with  a  rank 
that  would  merely  put  him  on  a  level  with  a  colonel  in  the 
army  !  How  much  longer  this  short-sighted  policy,  and 
grievous  injustice,  are  to  continue,  no  man  can  say ;  but  it 
is  safe  to  believe,  that  it  is  to  last  until  some  legislator  of 
influence  learn  the  simple  truth,  that  the  fancied  reluctance 
of  popular  constituencies  to  do  right,  oflener  exists  in  the  ap 
prehensions  of  their  representatives,  than  in  reality. — But  to 
our  tale. 

England  enjoys  a  wide-spread  reputation  for  her  fogs  ; 
but  little  do  they  know  how  much  a  fog  may  add  to  natural 
scenery,  who  never  witnessed  its  magical  effects,  as  it  has 
caused  a  beautiful  landscape  to  coquette  with  the  eye,  in  play 
ful  and  capricious  changes.  Our  opening  scene  is  in  one  of 
these  much  derided  fogs ;  though,  let  it  always  be  remembered, 
it  was  a  fog  of  June,  and  not  of  November.  On  a  high  head 
land  of  the  coast  of  Devonshire,  stood  a  little  station-house, 
which  had  been  erected  with  a  view  to  communicate,  by  sig 
nals,  with  the  shipping,  that  sometimes  lay  at  anchor  in  an  ad 
jacent  roadstead.  A  little  inland,  was  a  village,  or  hamlet, 
that  it  suits  our  purposes  to  call  Wychecombe ;  and  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  hamlet,  itself,  surrounded  by  a  small 
park,  stood  a  house  of  the  age  of  Henry  VII.,  which  was 
the  abode  of  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  a  baronet  of  the 
creation  of  King  James  I.,  and  the  possessor  of  an  improve- 
able  estate  of  some  three  or  four  thousand  a  year,  which 
had  been  transmitted  to  him,  through  a  line  of  ancestors, 
that  ascended  as  far  back  as  the  time  of  the  Plantagenets. 
Neither  Wychecombe,  nor  the  head-land,  nor  the  anchor 
age,  was  a  place  of  note  ;  for  much  larger  and  more  favoured 
hamlets,  villages,  and  towns,  lay  scattered  about  that  fine 
portion  of  England ;  much  better  roadsteads  and  bays  could 
generally  be  used  by  the  coming  or  the  parting  vessel ;  and 
far  more  important  signal-stations  were  to  be  met  with,  all 
along  that  coast.  Nevertheless,  the  roadstead  was  entered. 


10  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

when  calms  or  adverse  winds  rendered  it  expedient;  the 
hamlet  had  its  conveniences,  and,  like  most  English  ham 
lets,  its  beauties ;  and  the  Hall  and  park  were  not  without 
their  claims  to  state  and  rural  magnificence.  A  century 
since,  whatever  the  table  of  precedency,  or  Blackstone  may 
say,  an  English  baronet,  particularly  one  of  the  date  of 
1611,  was  a  much  greater  personage  than  he  is  to-day  ;  and 
an  estate  of  £4000  a  year,  more  especially  if  not  rack- 
rented,  was  of  an  extent,  and  necessarily  of  a  local  conse* 
quence,  equal  to  one  of  near,  or  quite  three  times  the  same 
amount,  in  our  own  day.  Sir  Wycherly,  however,  enjoyed 
an  advantage  that  was  of  still  greater  importance,  and  which 
was  more  common  in  1745,  than  at  the  present  moment. 
He  had  no  rival  within  fifteen  miles  of  him,  and  the  nearest 
potentate  was  a  nobleman  of  a  rank  and  fortune  that  put 
all  competition  out  of  the  question  ;  one  who  dwelt  in  courts, 
the  favourite  of  kings  ;  leaving  the  baronet,  as  it  might  be, 
in  undisturbed  enjoyment  of  all  the  local  homage.  Sir 
Wycherly  had  once  been  a  member  of  Parliament,  and  only 
once.  In  his  youth,  he  had  been  a  fox-hunter;  and  a  small 
property  in  Yorkshire  had  long  been  in  the  family,  as  a 
sort  of  foot-hold  on  such  enjoyments ;  but  having  broken  a 
leg,  in  one  of  his  leaps,  he  had  taken  refuge  against  ennui, 
by  sitting  a  single  session  in  the  House  of  Commons,  as  the 
member  of  a  borough  that  lay  adjacent  to  his  hunting-box. 
This  session  sufficed  for  his  whole  life ;  the  good  baronet 
having  taken  the  matter  so  literally,  as  to  make  it  a  point  to 
be  present  at  all  the  sittings  ;  a  sort  of  tax  on  his  time,  which, 
as  it  came  wholly  unaccompanied  by  profit,  was  very  likely 
soon  to  tire  out  the  patience  of  an  old  fox-hunter.  Aftei 
resigning  his  seat,  he  retired  altogether  to  Wychecombe, 
where  he  had  passed  the  last  fifty  years,  extolling  England, 
and  most  especially  that  part  of  it  in  which  his  own  estates 
lay  ;  in  abusing  the  French,  with  occasional  innuendoes 
against  Spain  and  Holland ;  and  in  eating  and  drinking. 
He  had  never  travelled ;  for,  though  Englishmen  of  his  sta 
tion  often  did  visit  the  continent,  a  century  ago,  they  oftener 
did  not.  It  was  the  courtly  and  the  noble,  who  then  chiefly 
took  this  means  of  improving  their  minds  and  manners ;  a 
class,  to  which  a  baronet  by  no  means  belonged,  ex  officio. 
To  conclude,  Sir  Wycherly  was  now  eighty-four;  hale,, 


TUB    TWO     ADMIRALS.  17 

hearty ,  and  a  bachelor.  He  had  been  born  the  oldest  of 
five  brothers ;  the  cadets  taking  refuge,  as  usual,  in  the 
Inns  of  court,  the  church,  the  army,  and  the  navy  ;  and  pre 
cisely  in  the  order  named.  The  lawyer  had  actually  risen 
to  be  a  judge,  by  the  style  and  appellation  of  Baron  Wyche- 
combe ;  had  three  illegitimate  children  by  his  housekeeper, 
and  died,  leaving  to  the  eldest  thereof,  all  his  professional 
earnings,  after  buying  commissions  for  the  two  younger  in 
the  army.  The  divine  broke  his  neck,  while  yet  a  curate, 
in  a  fox-hunt;  dying  unmarried,  and,  so  far  as  is  generally 
known,  childless.  This  was  Sir  Wycherly's  favourite  bro 
ther  ;  who,  he  was  accustomed  to  say,  "  lost  his  life,  in  set 
ting  an  example  of  field  sports,  to  his  parishioners."  The 
soldier  was  fairly  killed  in  battle,  before  he  was  twenty ;  and 
the  name  of  the  sailor  suddenly  disappeared  from  the  list  of 
His  Majesty's  lieutenants,  about  half-a-century  before  the 
time  when  our  tale  opens,  by  shipwreck.  Between  the 
sailor  and  the  head  of  the  family,  however,  there  had  been 
no  great  sympathy;  in  consequence,  as  it  was  rumoured,  of 
a  certain  beauty's  preference  for  the  latter,  though  this  pre 
ference  produced  no  suites,  inasmuch  as  the  lady  died  a 
maid.  Mr.  Gregory  Wychecombe,  the  lieutenant  in  ques 
tion,  was  what  is  termed  a  "  wild  boy ;"  and  it  was  the 
general  impression,  when  his  parents  sent  him  to  sea,  that 
the  ocean  would  now  meet  with  its  match.  The  hopes  of 
the  family  centred  in  the  judge,  after  the  death  of  the  curate ; 
and  it  was  a  great  cause  of  regret,  to  those  who  took  an  in 
terest  in  its  perpetuity  and  renown,  that  this  dignitary  did 
not  marry ;  since  the  premature  death  of  all  the  other  sons 
had  left  the  hall,  park,  and  goodly  farms,  without  any  known 
legal  heir.  In  a  word,  this  branch  of  the  family  of  Wyche 
combe  would  be  extinct,  when  Sir  Wycherly  died,  and  the 
entail  become  useless.  Not  a  female  inheritor,  even,  or  a 
male  inheritor  through  females,  could  be  traced ;  and  it  had 
become  imperative  on  Sir  Wycherly  to  make  a  will,  lest  the 
property  should  go  off,  the  Lord  knew  where  ;  or,  what  was 
worse,  it  should  escheat.  It  is  true,  Tom  Wychecombe,  the 
judge's  eldest  son,  often  gave  dark  hints  about  a  secret,  and 
a  timely  marriage  between  his  parents,  a  fact  that  would 
have  superseded  the  necessity  for  all  devises,  as  the  property 
was  strictly  tied  up,  so  far  as  the  lineal  descendants  of  a  cer 
2* 


18  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

tain  old  Sir  Wycherly  were  concerned ;  but  the  present  Si* 
Wycherly  had  seen  his  brother,  in  his  last  illness,  on  which 
occasion,  the  following  conversation  had  taken  place. 

"  And  now,  brother  Thomas,"  said  the  baronet,  in  a 
friendly  and  consoling  manner ;  "  having,  as  one  may  say, 
prepared  your  soul  for  heaven,  by  these  prayers  and  ad 
missions  of  your  sins,  a  word  may  be  prudently  said,  con 
cerning  the  affairs  of  this  world.  You  know  I  am  childless 
—that  is  t6  say, — " 

"  I  understand  you,  Wycherly,"  interrupted  the  dying 
man,  "  you  're  a  bachelor." 

"  That 's  it,  Thomas  ;  and  bachelors  ought  not  to  have 
children.  Had  our  poor  brother  James  escaped  that  mishap, 
he  might  have  been  sitting  at  your  bed-side,  at  this  moment, 
and  he  could  have  told  us  all  about  it.  St.  James,  I  used  to 
call  him ;  and  well  did  he  deserve  the  name !" 

"  St.  James  the  least,  then,  it  must  have  been,  Wycherly." 

"  It 's  a  dreadful  thing  to  have  no  heir,  Thomas !  Did  you 
ever  know  a  case  in  your  practice,  in  which  another  estate 
was  left  so  completely  without  an  heir,  as  this  of  ours  ?" 

"  It  does  not  often  happen,  brother ;  heirs  are  usually 
more  abundant  than  estates." 

"  So  I  thought.  Will  the  king  get  the  title,  as  well  as  the 
estate,  brother,  if  it  should  escheat,  as  you  call  it  ?" 

"  Being  the  fountain  of  honour,  he  will  be  rather  indif 
ferent  about  the  baronetcy." 

"  I  should  care  less,  if  it  went  to  the  next  sovereign,  who 
is  English  born.  Wychecombe  has  always  belonged  to 
Englishmen !" 

"  That  it  has ;  and  ever  will,  I  trust.  You  have  only  to 
select  an  heir,  when  I  am  gone,  and  by  making  a  will,  with 
proper  devises,  the  property  will  not  escheat.  Be  careful  to 
use  the  full  terms  of  perpetuity." 

"  Every  thing  was  so  comfortable,  brother,  while  you 
were  in  health,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  fidgeting ;  "  you  were 
my  natural  heir — " 

"  Heir  of  entail,"  interrupted  the  judge. 

"  Well,  well,  Aeir,  at  all  events ;  and  that  was  a  prodi- 
gious  comfort  to  a  man  like  myself,  who  has  a  sort  of  reli 
gious  scruples  about  making  a  will.  I  have  heard  it  whis 
pered,  that  you  were  actually  married  to  Martha;  in  which 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  19 

case,  Tom  might  drop  into  our  shoes,  so  readily,  without 
any  more  signing  and  sealing." 

"  Ajilius  nullius"  returned  the  other,  too  conscientious  to 
lend  himself  to  a  deception  of  that  nature. 

"  Why,  brother,  Tom  often  seems  to  me  to  favour  such 
an  idea,  himself." 

"  No  wonder,  Wycherly,  for  the  idea  would  greatly  fa 
vour  him.  Tom,  and  his  brothers,  are  all  Jilii  nullorum, 
God  forgive  me,  for  that  same  wrong." 

"  I  wonder  neither  Charles,  nor  Gregory,  thought  of  mar 
rying,  before  they  lost  their  lives  for  their  king  and  country," 
put  in  Sir  Wycherly,  in  an  upbraiding  tone,  as  if  he  thought 
his  penniless  brethren  had  done  him  an  injury,  in  neglecting 
to  supply  him  with  an  heir,  though  he  had  been  so  forgetful 
himself,  of  the  same  great  duty.  "  I  did  think  of  bringing 
in  a  bill,  for  providing  heirs  for  unmarried  persons,  without 
the  trouble  and  responsibility  of  making  wills." 

"  That  would  have  been  a  great  improvement  on  the  law 
of  descents — I  hope  you  wouldn't  have  overlooked  the  an 
cestors." 

"  Not  I — everybody  would  have  got  his  rights.  They 
tell  me  poor  Charles  never  spoke  after  he  was  shot ;  but  I 
dare  say,  did  we  know  the  truth,  he  regretted  sincerely  that 
he  never  married." 

"  There,  for  once,  Wycherly,  I  think  you  are  likely  to  be 
wrong.  Afemme  sole  without  food,  is  rather  a  helpless  sort 
of  a  person." 

"  Well,  well,  I  wish  he  had  married.  What  would  it 
have  been  to  me,  had  he  left  a  dozen  widows." 

"  It  might  have  raised  some  awkward  questions  as  to 
dowry  ;  and  if  each  left  a  son,  the  title  and  estates  would 
have  been  worse  off  than  they  are  at  present,  without 
widows,  or  legitimate  children." 

"  Any  thing  would  be  better  than  having  no  heir.  I  be 
lieve  I  'm  the  first  baronet  of  Wychecombe,  who  has  been 
obliged  to  make  a  will !" 

"  Quite  likely,"  returned  the  brother,  drily ;  "  I  remem 
ber  to  have  got  nothing  from  the  last  one,  in  that  way. 
Charles  and  Gregory  fared  no  better.  Never  mind,  Wy- 
cherly,  you  behaved  like  a  father  to  us  all." 

"  I  don't  mind  signing  cheques,  in  the  least ;  but  the  wills 


20  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

have  an  irreligious  appearance,  in  my  eyes.     There  are  a 
•  good  many  Wychecombes,  in  England ;  I  wonder  some  of 
them  are  not  of  our  family !     They  tell  me  a  hundredth 
cousin  is  just  as  good  an  heir,  as  a  first-born  son." 

"Failing  nearer  of  kin.  But  we  have  no  hundredth 
cousins  of  the  whole  blood" 

"  There  are  the  Wychecombes  of  Surrey,  brother  Tho 
mas —  ?" 

"  Descended  from  a  bastard  of  the  second  baronet,  and 
out  of  the  line  of  descent,  altogether." 

"  But  the  Wychecombes  of  Hertfordshire,  I  have  always 
heard  were  of  our  family,  and  legitimate." 

"  True,  as  regards  matrimony — rather  too  much  of  it,  by 
the  way.  They  branched  off  in  1487,  long  before  the  crea 
tion,  and  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  entail ;  the  first  of 
their  line  coming  from  old  Sir  Michael  Wychecombe,  Kt 
and  Sheriff  of  Devonshire,  by  his  second  wife  Margery , 
while  we  are  derived  from  the  same  male  ancestor,  through 
Wycherly,  the  only  son  by  Joan,  the  first  wife.  Wycherly, 
and  Michael,  the  son  of  Michael  and  Margery,  were  of  the 
half-blood,  as  respects  each  other,  and  could  not  be  heirs  of 
blood.  What  was  true  of  the  ancestors,  is  true  of  the  de 
scendants." 

"  But  we  came  of  the  same  ancestor,  and  the  estate  is 
far  older  than  1487." 

"  Quite  true,  brother ;  nevertheless,  the  half-blood  can't 
take ;  so  says  the  perfection  of  human  reason." 

"  I  never  could  understand  these  niceties  of  the  law,"  said 
Sir  Wycherly,  sighing ;  "  but  I  suppose  they  are  all  right. 
There  ore  so  many  Wychecombes  scattered  about  England, 
that  I  should  think  some  one  among  them  all,  might  be  my 
heir!" 

"  Every  man  of  them  bears  a  bar  in  his  arms,  or  is  of  the 
half-blood." 

"  You  are  quite  sure,  brother,  that  Tom  is  a  jilivs  nul- 
lus  ?"  for  the  baronet  had  forgotten  most  of  the  little  Latin 
he  ever  knew,  and  translated  this  legal  phrase  into  "  no 
son." 

"  Filius  nullius,  Sir  Wycherly,  the  son  of  nobody  ;  your 
reading  would  literally  make  Tom,  nobody ,  whereas,  he  is 
only  the  son  of  nobody." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  21 

«•  But,  brother,  he  is  your  son,  and  as  like  you,  as  two 
hounds  of  the  same  litter." 

"  I  am  nullus,  in  the  eye  of  the  law,  as  regards  poor 
Tom  ;  who,  until  he  marries,  and  has  children  of  his  own, 
is  altogether  without  legal  kindred.  Nor  do  I  know  that 
legitimacy  would  make  Tom  any  better;  for  he  is  presuming 
and  confident  enough  for  the  heir  apparent  to  the  throne,  as 
it  is." 

"  Well,  there 's  this  young  sailor,  who  has  been  so  much 
at  the  station  lately,  since  he  was  left  ashore  for  the  cure  of 
his  wounds.  'T  is  a  most  gallant  lad  ;  and  the  First  Lord 
has  sent  him  a  commission,  as  a  reward  for  his  good  con 
duct,  in  cutting  out  the  Frenchman.  I  look  upon  him  as  a 
credit  to  the  name ;  and  I  make  no  question  he  is,  some  way 
or  other,  of  our  family." 

"  Does  he  claim  to  be  so  ?"  asked  the  judge,  a  little  quickly . 
for  he  distrusted  men  in  general,  and  thought,  from  all  he 
had  heard,  that  some  attempt  might  have  been  made  to  prac 
tise  on  his  brother's  simplicity.  "  I  thought  you  told  me 
that  he  came  from  the  American  colonies  ?" 

"  So  he  does  ;  he 's  a  native  of  Virginia,  as  was  his  father 
before  him." 

"  A  convict,  perhaps ;  or  a  servant,  quite  likely,  who  has 
found  the  name  of  his  former  master,  more  to  his  liking 
than  his  own.  Such  things  are  common,  they  tell  me,  be 
yond  seas." 

"  Yes,  if  he  were  anything  but  an  American,  I  might  wish 
he  were  my  heir,"  returned  Sir  Wycherly,  in  a  melancholy 
tone ;  "  but  it  would  be  worse  than  to  let  the  lands  escheat, 
as  you  call  it,.to  place  an  American  in  possession  of  Wyche- 
combe.  The  manors  have  always  had  English  owners 
down  to  the  present  moment,  thank  God !" 

"  Should  they  have  any  other,  it  will  be  your  own  fault, 
Wycherly.  When  I  am  dead,  and  that  will  happen  ere 
many  weeks,  the  human  being  will  not  bo  living,  who  can 
take  that  property,  after  your  demise,  in  any  other  mannei 
than  by  escheat,  or  by  devise.  There  will  then  be  neithei 
heir  of  entail,  nor  heir  at  law ;  and  you  may  make  whom 
you  please,  master  of  Wychecombe,  provided  he  be  not  an 
alien." 


22  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  Not  an  American,  I  suppose,  brother  ;  an  American  is 
an  alien,  of  course." 

"  Humph  ! — why,  not  in  law,  whatever  he  may  be  accord 
ing  to  our  English  notions.  Harkee,  brother  Wycherly ; 
I  've  never  asked  you,  or  wished  you  to  leave  the  estate  to 
Tom,  or  his  younger  brothers ;  for  one,  and  all,  are  JUii 
nullorum — as  I  term  'em,  though  my  brother  Record  will 
have  it,  it  ought  to  be  jUii  nullius,  as  well  asjilius  nullius. 
Let  that  be  as  it  may ;  no  bastard  should  lord  it  at  Wyche- 
combe ;  and  rather  than  the  king  should  get  the  lands,  to  be 
stow  on  some  favourite,  I  would  give  it  to  the  half-blood." 

"  Can  that  be  done  without  making  a  will,  brother  Tho 
mas  ?" 

"  It  cannot,  Sir  Wycherly ;  nor  with  a  will,  so  long  as  an 
heir  of  entail  can  be  found." 

"  Is  there  no  way  of  making  Tom  a  Jilius  somebody ',  so 
that  he  can  succeed  1" 

"  Not  under  our  laws.  By  the  civil  law,  such  a  thing 
might  have  been  done,  and  by  the  Scotch  law  ;  but  not  under 
the  perfection  of  reason." 

"  I  wish  you  knew  this  young  Virginian !  The  lad  bears 
both  of  my  names,  Wycherly  Wychecombe." 

**  He  is  not  ajtlius  Wycherly — is  he,  baronet  1" 

"  Fie  upon  thee,  brother  Thomas !  Do  you  think  I  have 
{ess  candour  than  thyself,  that  I  would  not  acknowledge  my 
own  flesh  and  blood.  I  never  saw  the  youngster,  until 
within  the  last  six  months,  when  he  was  landed  from  the 
roadstead,  and  brought  to  Wychecombe,  to  be  cured  of  his 
wounds ;  nor  ever  heard  of  him  before.  When  they  told 
me  his  name  was  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  I  could  do  no 
less  than  call  and  see  him.  The  poor  fellow  lay  at  death's 
door  for  a  fortnight ;  and  it  was  while  we  had  little  or  no 
hope  of  saving  him,  that  I  got  the  few  family  anecdotes  from 
him.  Now,  that  would  be  good  evidence  in  law,  I  believe, 
Thomas." 

"  For  certain  things,  had  the  lad  really  died.  Surviving, 
he  must  be  heard  on  his  voire  dire,  and  under  oath.  But 
what  was  his  tale  ?" 

"  A  very  short  one.  He  told  me  his  father  was  a  Wy 
cherly  Wychecombe,  and  that  his  grandfather  had  been  u 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  23 

Virginia  planter  This  was  all  he  seemed  to  know  of  his 
ancestry." 

"  And  probably  all  there  was  of  them.  My  Tom  is  not 
the  only  Jilius  nullius  that  has  been  among  us,  and  this 
grandfather,  if  he  has  not  actually  stolen  the  name,  has  got 
it  by  these  doubtful  means.  As  for  the  Wycherly,  it  should 
pass  for  nothing.  Learning  that  there  is  a  line  of  baronets 
of  this  name,  every  pretender  to  the  family  would  be  apt  to 
call  a  son  Wycherly." 

"  The  line  will  shortly  be  ended,  brother,"  returned  Sir 
Wycherly,  sighing.  "  I  wish  you  might  be  mistaken ;  and, 
after  all,  Tom  shouldn't  prove  to  be  that  Jilius  you  call 
him." 

Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe,  as  much  from  esprit  de  corps 
as  from  moral  principle,  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  in 
all  things  that  related  to  meum  and  tuum.  He  was  particu- 
arly  rigid  in  his  notions  concerning  the  transmission  of 
real  estate,  and  the  rights  of  primogeniture.  The  world  had 
taken  little  interest  in  the  private  history  of  a  lawyer,  and 
his  sons  having  been  born  before  his  elevation  to  the  bench, 
he  passed  with  the  public  for  a  widower,  with  a  family  of 
promising  boys.  Not  one  in  a  hundred  of  his  acquaintances 
even,  suspected  the  fact ;  and  nothing  would  have  been  easier 
for  him,  than  to  have  imposed  on  his  brother,  by  inducing 
him  to  make  a  will  under  some  legal  mystification  or  other, 
and  to  have  caused  Tom  Wychecombe  to  succeed  to  the 
property  in  question,  by  an  indisputable  title.  There  would 
have  been  no  great  difficulty^even,  in  his  son's  assuming 
and  maintaining  his  right  to'the  baronetcy,  inasmuch  as 
there  would  be  no  competitor,  and  the  crown  officers  were 
not  particularly  rigid  in  inquiring  into  the  claims  of  those 
who  assumed  a  title  that  brought  with  it  no  political  privi 
leges.  Still,  he  was  far  from  indulging  in  any  such  project. 
To  him  it  appeared  that  the  Wychecombe  estate  ought  to  go 
with  the  principles  that  usually  governed  such  matters  ;  and, 
although  he  submitted  to  the  dictum  of  the  common  law,  as 
regarded  the  provision  which  excluded  the  half-blood  from 
inheriting,  with  the  deference  of  an  English  common-law 
lawyer,  he  saw  and  felt,  that,  failing  the  direct  line,  Wyche 
combe  ought  to  revert  to  the  descendants  of  Sir  Michael  by 
his  second  son,  for  the  plain  reason  that  they  were  just  as 


24  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

much  derived  from  the  person  who  had  acquired  the  estate, 
as  his  brother  Wycherly  and  himself.  Had  there  been  de 
scendants  of  females,  even,  to  interfere,  no  such  opinion 
would  have  existed  ;  but,  as  between  an  escheat,  or  a  devise 
in  favour  of  aflius  nullius,  or  of  the  descendant  ofajilius 
nullius,  the  half-blood  possessed  every  possible  advantage. 
In  his  legal  eyes,  legitimacy  was  everything,  although  he 
had  not  hesitated  to  be  the  means  of  bringing  into  the  world 
seven  illegitimate  children,  that  being  the  precise  number 
Martha  had  the  credit  of  having  borne  him,  though  three 
only  survived.  After  reflecting  a  moment,  therefore,  he 
turned  to  the  baronet,  and  addressed  him  more  seriously 
than  he  had  yet  done,  in  the  present  dialogue ;  first  taking  a 
draught  of  cordial  to  give  him  strength  for  the  occasion. 

"  Listen  to  me,  brother  Wycherly,"  said  the  judge,  with 
a  gravity  that  at  once  caught  the  attention  of  the  other. 
"  You  know  something  of  the  family  history,  and  I  need  do 
no  more  than  allude  to  it.  Our  ancestors,  were  the  knightly 
possessors  of  Wychecombe,  centuries  before  King  James 
established  the  rank  of  baronet.  When  our  great-grand 
father,  Sir  Wycherly,  accepted  the  patent  of  1611,  he 
scarcely  did  himself  honour ;  for,  by  aspiring  higher,  he 
might  have  got  a  peerage.  However,  a  baronet  he  became, 
and  for  the  first  time  since  Wychecombe  was  Wychecombe, 
the  estate  was  entailed,  to  do  credit  to  the  new  rank.  Now, 
the  first  Sir  Wycherly  had  three  sons,  and  no  daughter. 
Each  of  these  sons  succeeded ;  the  two  eldest  as  bachelors, 
and  the  youngest  was  our  grandfather.  Sir  Thomas,  the 
fourth  baronet,  left  an  only  child,  Wycherly,  our  father. 
Sir  Wycherly,  our  father,  had  five  sons,  Wycherly  his  suc 
cessor,  yourself,  and  the  sixth  baronet ;  myself;  James ; 
Charles  ;  and  Gregory.  James  broke  his  neck  at  your  side. 
The  two  last  lost  their  lives  in  the  king's  service,  unmarried  ; 
and  neither  you,  nor  I,  have  entered  into  the  holy  state  of 
matrimony.  I  cannot  survive  a  month,  and  the  hopes  of 
perpetuating  the  direct  line  of  the  family,  rest  with  your 
self.  This  accounts  for  all  the  descendants  of  Sir  Wy 
cherly,  the  first  baronet ;  and  it  also  settles  the  question  of 
heirs  of  entail,  of  whom  there  are  none  after  myself  To 
go  back  beyond  the  time  of  King  James  I.  :  Twice  did  tho 
elder  lines  of  the  Wychecombes  fail,  between  tho  reign  of 


T  II  ET  WO     ADMIRALS.  25 

King  Richard  IL  and  King  Henry  VII.,  when  S'ir  Michael 
succeeded.  Now,  in  each  of  these  cases,  the  law  disposed 
of  the  succession ;  the  youngest  branches  of  the  family,  in 
both  instances,  getting  the  estate.  It  follows  that  agreeably 
to  legal  decisions  had  at  the  time,  when  the  facts  must  have 
been  known,  that  the  Wychecombes  were  reduced  to  these 
younger  lines.  Sir  Michael  had  two  wives.  From  the 
first  we  are  derived  —  from  the  last,  the  Wychecombes  of 
Hertfordshire — since  known  as  baronets  of  that  county,  by 
the  style  and  title  of  Sir  Reginald  Wychecome  of  Wyche- 
combe-Regis,  Herts." 

"  The  present  Sir  Reginald  can  have  no  claim,  being  of 
the  half-blood,"  put  in  Sir  Wycherly,  with  a  brevity  of  man 
ner  that  denoted  feeling.  "  The  half-blood  is  as  bad  as  a 
nullius,  as  you  call  Tom." 

"  Not  quite.  A  person  of  the  half-blood  is  as  legitimate 
as  the  king's  majesty ;  whereas,  a  nullius  is  of  no  blood. 
Now,  suppose  for  a  moment,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  you  had 
been  a  son  by  a  first  wife,  and  I  had  been  a  son  by  a  second 
— would  there  have  been  no  relationship  between  us  ?" 

"  What  a  question,  Tom,  to  put  to  your  own  brother !" 

"But  I  should  not  be  your  own  brother,  my  good  sir; 
only  your  half  brother ;  of  the  half,  and  not  of  the  whole 
blood." 

"What  of  that — what  of  that? — your  father  would  have 
been  my  father — we  would  have  had  the  same  name — the 
same  family  history — the  same  family  feelings — poh  !  poh  ! 
— we  should  have  been  both  Wychecombes,  exactly  as  we 
are  to-day." 

"  Quite  true,  and  yet  I  could  not  have  been  your  heir,  nor 
you  mine.  The  estate  would  escheat  to  the  king,  Hanove 
rian  or  Scotchman,  before  it  came  to  me.  Indeed,  to  me  it 
could  never  come." 

"  Thomas,  you  are  trifling  with  my  ignorance,  and  making 
matters  worse  than  they  really  are.  Certainly,  as  long  as 
you  lived,  you  would  be  rny  heir !" 

"  Very  true,  as  to  the  £20,000  in  the  funds,  but  not  as  to 
the  baronetcy  and  Wychecombe.  So  far  as  the  two  last 
are  concerned,  I  am  heir  of  blood,  and  of  entail,  of  the  body 
of  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  the  first  baronet,  and  the 
maker  of  the  entail." 

a 


26  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  Had  there  been  no  entail,  and  had  I  died  a  child,  whc 
would  have  succeeded  our  father,  supposing  there  had  been 
two  mothers'?" 

"  I,  as  the  next  surviving  son.'5 

"  There  !  —  I  knew  it  must  be  so  !"  exclaimed  Sir  Wy- 
cherly,  in  triumph  ;  "  and  all  this  time  you  have  been  joking 
with  me  !" 

"  Not  so  fast,  brother  of  mine—  not  so  fast.  I  should  be 
of  the  whole  blood,  as  respected  our  father,  and  all  the 
Wychecombes  that  have  gone  before  him  ;  but  of  the  half' 
blood,  as  respected  you.  From  our  father  I  might  have 
taken,  as  his  heir-at-law  :  but  from  you,  never,  having  been 


"  I  would  have  made  a  will,  in  that  case,  Thomas,  and 
left  you  every  farthing,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  with  feeling. 

"  That  is  just  what  I  wish  you  to  do  with  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe.  You  must  take  him;  ajilius  nullius,  in  the 
person  of  my  son  Tom  ;  a  stranger  ;  or  let  the  property  es 
cheat  ;  for,  we  are  so  peculiarly  placed  as  not  to  have  a 
known  relative,  by  either  the  male  or  female  lines  ;  the  ma 
ternal  ancestors  being  just  as  barren  of  heirs  as  the  paternal. 
Our  good  mother  was  the  natural  daughter  of  the  third 
Earl  of  Prolific  ;  our  grandmother  was  the  last  of  her  race, 
so  far  as  human  ken  can  discover  ;  our  great-grandmother 
is  said  to  have  had  semi-royal  blood  in  her  veins,  without 
the  aid  of  the  church,  and  beyond  that  it  would  be  hopeless 
to  attempt  tracing  consanguinity  on  that  side  of  the  house. 
No,  Wycherly  ;  it  is  Sir  Reginald  who  has  the  best  right  to 
the  land  ;  Tom,  or  one  of  his  brothers,  an  utter  stranger,  or 
His  Majesty,  follow.  Remember  that  estates  of  £4000  a 
year,  don't  often  escheat,  now-a-days." 

"  If  you  '11  draw  up  a  will,  brother,  I  '11  leave  it  all  to 
Tom,"  cried  the  baronet,  with  sudden  energy.  "  Nothing 
need  be  said  about  the  nullius  ;  and  when  I  'm  gone,  he  '11 
step  quietly  into  my  place." 

Nature  triumphed  a  moment  in  the  bosom  of  the  father  ; 
but  habit,  and  the  stern  sense  of  right,  soon  overcame  the 
feeling.  Perhaps  certain  doubts,  and  a  knowledge  of  his 
son's  real  character,  contributed  their  share  towards  the 
reply. 

"  It  ought  not  to  be,  Sir  Wycherly,"  returned  the  judge, 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  27 

musing ,  "  Tom  has  no  right  to  Wychecombe,  and  Sir 
Reginald  has  the  best  moral  right  possible,  though  the  law 
cuts  him  off.  Had  Sir  Michael  made  the  entail,  instead  of 
our  great-grandfather,  he  would  have  come  in,  as  a  matter 
of  course." 

"  I  never  liked  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,"  said  the 
baronet,  stubbornly. 

"  What  of  that  1— He  will  not  trouble  you  while  living, 
and  when  dead  it  will  be  all  the  same.  Come — come — I 
will  draw  the  will  myself,  leaving  blanks  for  the  name ;  and 
when  it  is  once  done,  you  will  sign  it,  cheerfully.  It  is  the  last 
legal  act  I  shall  ever  perform,  and  it  will  be  a  suitable  one, 
death  being  constantly  before  me." 

This  ended  the  dialogue.  The  will  was  drawn  accord 
ing  to  promise ;  Sir  Wycherly  took  it  to  his  room  to  read, 
carefully  inserted  the  name  of  Tom  Wychecombe  in  all  the 
blank  spaces,  brought  it  back,  duly  executed  the  instru 
ment  in  his  brother's  presence,  and  then  gave  the  paper  to 
his  nephew  to  preserve,  with  a  strong  injunction  on  him  to 
keep  the  secret,  until  the  instrument  should  have  force  by 
his  own  death.  Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe  died  in  six  weeks, 
and  the  baronet  returned  to  his  residence,  a  sincere  mourner 
for  the  loss  of  an  only  brother.  A  more  unfortunate  selec 
tion  of  an  heir  could  not  have  been  made,  as  Tom  Wyche 
combe  was,  in  reality,  the  sou  of  a  barrister  in  the  Temple; 
the  fancied  likeness  to  the  icputed  father  existing  only  in 
the  imagination  of  his  credu  <o«s  uncle. 


28  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  II. 


• "  How  fearful 


\nd  dizzy  't  is,  to  cast  one's  eyes  so  low ! 

The  crows,  and  choughs,  that  wing  the  midway  air, 
Show  scarce  so  gross  as  beetles :  Half-way  down 
Hangs  one  that  gathers  samphire  :  dreadful  trade !" 

KING  LEAR. 

THIS  digression  on  the  family  of  Wychecombe  has  led  us 
far  from  the  signal-station,  the  head-land,  and  the  fog,  with 
which  the  tale  opened.  The  little  dwelling  connected  with 
the  station  stood  at  a  short  distance  from  the  staff,  sheltered, 
by  the  formation  of  the  ground,  from  the  bleak  winds  of  the 
channel,  and  fairly  embowered  in  shrubs  and  flowers.  It 
was  a  humble  cottage,  that  had  been  ornamented  with  more 
taste  than  was  usual  in  England  at  that  day.  Its  whitened 
walls,  thatched  roof,  picketed  garden,  and  trellised  porch, 
bespoke  care,  and  a  mental  improvement  in  the  inmates, 
that  were  scarcely  to  be  expected  in  persons  so  humbly  em 
ployed  as  the  keeper  of  the  signal-staff,  and  his  family. 
All  near  the  house,  too,  was  in  the  same  excellent  condition  ; 
for  while  the  headland  itself  lay  in  common,  this  portion  of 
it  was  enclosed  in  two  or  three  pretty  little  fields,  that  were 
grazed  by  a  single  horse,  and  a  couple  of  cows.  There  were 
no  hedges,  however,  the  thorn  not  growing  willingly  in  a 
situation  so  exposed ;  but  the  fields  were  divided  by  fences, 
neatly  enough  made  of  wood,  that  declared  its  own  origin, 
having  in  fact  been  part  of  the  timbers  and  planks  of  a 
wreck.  As  the  whole  was  whitewashed,  it  had  a  rustic,  ano 
in  a  climate  where  the  sun  is  seldom  oppressive,  by  no  means 
a  disagreeable  appearance. 

The  scene  with  which  we  desire  to  commence  the  tale, 
opens  about  seven  o'clock  on  a  July  morning.  On  a  bench 
at  the  foot  of  the  signal-staff,  was  seated  one  of  a  frame 
that  was  naturally  large  and  robust,  but  which  was  sensibly 
beginning  to  give  way,  either  by  age  or  disease.  A  glance 
at  the  red,  bloated  face,  would  suffice  to  tell  a  medical  man. 
that  the  habits  had  more  to  do  with  the  growing  failure  of 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS  29 

the  system,  than  any  natural  derangement  of  the  physical 
organs.  The  face  too,  was  singularly  manly,  and  had  once 
been  handsome,  even  ;  nay,  it  was  not  altogether  without 
claims  to  be  so  considered  still ;  though  intemperance  was 
making  sad  inroads  on  its  comeliness.  This  person  was 
about  fifty  years  old,  and  his  air,  as  well  as  his  attire,  de 
noted  a  mariner ;  not  a  common  seaman,  nor  yet  altogether 
an  officer ;  but  one  of  those  of  a  middle  station,  who  in  na 
vies  used  to  form  a  class  by  themselves ;  being  of  a  rank 
that  entitled  them  to  the  honours  of  the  quarter-deck,  though 
out  of  the  regular  line  of  promotion.  In  a  word,  he  wore 
the  unpretending  uniform  of  a  master.  A  century  ago, 
the  dress  of  the  English  naval  officer  was  exceedingly  sim 
ple,  though  more  appropriate  to  the  profession  perhaps,  than 
the  more  showy  attire  that  has  since  been  introduced. 
Epaulettes  were  not  used  by  any,  and  the  anchor  button, 
with  the  tint  that  is  called  navy  blue,  and  which  is  meant  to 
represent  the  deep  hue  of  the  ocean,  with  white  facings, 
composed  the  principal  peculiarities  of  the  dress.  The  per 
son  introduced  to  the  reader,  whose  name  was  Button,  and 
who  was  simply  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  signal-station, 
had  a  certain  neatness  about  his  well-worn  uniform,  his 
linen,  and  all  of  his  attire,  which  showed  that  some  person 
more  interested  in  such  matters  than  one  of  his  habits  was 
likely  to  be,  had  the  care  of  his  wardrobe.  In  this  respect, 
indeed,  his  appearance  was  unexceptionable ;  and  there  was 
an  air  about  the  whole  man  which  showed  that  nature,  if 
not  education,  had  intended  him  for  something  far  better 
than  the  being  he  actually  was. 

Button  was  waiting,  at  that  early  hour,  to  ascertain,  as 
the  veil  of  mist  was  raised  from  the  face  of  the  sea,  whether 
a  sail  might  be  in  sight,  that  required  of  him  the  execution 
of  any  of  his  simple  functions.  That  some  one  was  near 
by,  on  the  head-land,  too,  was  quite  evident,  by  the  occa 
sional  interchange  of  speech  ;  though  no  person  but  himself 
was  visible.  The  direction  of  the  sounds  would  seem  to  in 
dicate  that  a  man  was  actually  over  the  brow  of  the  cliff, 
perhaps  a  hundred  feet  removed  from  the  seat  occupied  by 
the  master. 

"  Recollect  the  sailor's  maxim,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  called 
out  Button,  in  a  warning  voice;  "one  hand  for  the  king, 
3* 


30  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

and  the  other  for  self!  Those  cliffs  are  ticklish  places ;  and 
really  it  does  seem  a  little  unnatural  that  a  sea- faring  person 
like'  yourself,  should  have  so  great  a  passion  for  flowers,  as 
to  risk  his  neck  in  order  to  make  a  posy  !" 

"  Never  fear  for  me,  Mr.  Button,"  answered  a  full,  manly 
voice,  that  one  could  have  sworn  issued  from  the  chest  of 
youth  ;  "  never  fear  for  me ;  we  sailors  are  used  to  hanging 
in  the  air." 

u  Ay,  with  good  three-stranded  ropes  to  hold  on  by,  young 
gentleman.  Now  His  Majesty's  government  has  just  made 
you  an  officer,  there  is  a  sort  of  obligation  to  take  care  of 
your  lite,  in  order  that  it  may  be  used,  and,  at  need,  given 
away,  in  his  service." 

"  Quite  true — quite  true,  Mr.  Dutton — so  true,  I  wonder 
you  think  it  necessary  to  remind  me  of  it.  I  am  very  grate 
ful  to  His  Majesty's  government,  and — " 

While  speaking  the  voice  seemed  to  descend,  getting  at 
each  instant  less  and  less  distinct,  until,  in  the  end,  it  became 
quite  inaudible.  Dutton  looked  uneasy,  for  at  that  instant 
a  noise  was  heard,  and  then  it  was  quite  clear  some  heavy 
object  was  falling  down  the  face  of  the  cliff.  Now  it  was 
that  the  manner  felt  the  want  of  good  nerves,  and  experi 
enced  the  sense  of  humiliation  which  accompanied  the  con 
sciousness  of  having  destroyed  them  by  his  excesses.  He 
trembled  in  every  limb,  and,  for  the  moment,  was  actually 
unable  to  rise.  A  light  step  at  his  side,  however,  drew  e 
glance  in  that  direction,  and  his  eye  fell  on  the  form  of  a 
lovely  girl  of  nineteen,  his  own  daughter,  Mildred. 

"  I  heard  you  calling  to  some  one,  father,"  said  the  latter, 
looking  wistfully  but  distrustfully  at  her  parent,  as  if  won- 
dering  at  his  yielding  to  his  infirmity  so  early  in  the  day , 
"  can  I  be  of  service  to  you  1" 

"  Poor  Wychecombe  ?"  exclaimed  Dutton.  "  He  went  over 
the  cliff  in  search  of  a  nosegay  to  offer  to  yourself,  and  — 
and — I  fear — greatly  fear — " 

"  What,  father?"  demanded  Mildred,  in  a  voice  of  horror, 
the  rich  colour  disappearing  from  a  face  which  it  left  of  the 
hue  of  death.  "  No — no — no — he  cannot  have  fallen." 

Dutton  bent  his  head  down,  drew  a  long  breath,  and  then 
seemed  to  gain  more  command  of  his  nerves.  He  was  about 
to  rise,  when  the  sound  of  a  horse's  feet  was  heard,  and  then 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  31 

Sir  Wycheiiy  Wychecombe,  mounted  on  a  quiet  pony,  rode 
slowly  up  to  the  signal-staff.  It  was  a  common  thing  for 
the  baronet  to  appear  on  the  cliffs  early  in  the  morning,  but 
it  was  not  usual  for  him  to  come  unattended.  The  instant 
her  eyes  fell  on  the  fine  form  of  the  venerable  old  man, 
Mildred,  who  seemed  to  know  him  well,  and  to  use  the  fa 
miliarity  of  one  confident  of  being  a  favourite,  exclaimed — 

"  Oh  !  Sir  Wycherly,  how  fortunate — where  is  Richard  ?" 

"  Good  morrow,  my  pretty  Milly,"  answered  the  baronet, 
cheerfully ;  "  fortunate  or  not,  here  I  am,  and  not  a  bit  flat 
tered  that  your  first  question  should  be  after  the  groom,  in 
stead  of  his  master.  I  have  sent  Dick  on  a  message  to  the 
vicar's.  Now  my  poor  brother,  the  judge,  is  dead  and  gone, 
I  find  Mr.  Rotherham  more  and  more  necessary  to  me." 

"  Oh  !  dear  Sir  Wycherly — Mr.  Wychecombe — Lieuten 
ant  Wychecombe,  I  mean — the  young  officer  from  Virginia 
— he  who  was  so  desperately  wounded — in  whose  recovery 
we  all  took  so  deep  an  interest — " 

"  Well — what  of  him,  child? — you  surely  do  not  mean  to 
put  him  on  a  level  with  Mr.  Rotherham,  in  the  way  of  reli 
gious  consolation  —  and,  as  for  anything  else,  there  is  no 
consanguinity  between  the  Wychecornbes  of  Virginia  and 
my  family.  He  may  be  a  jilivs  nullius  of  the  W7yche- 
combes  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  Herts,  but  has  no  connection 
with  those  of  Wrychecombe-Hall,  Devonshire." 

"  There—there—the  cliff!  — the  cliff!"  added  Mildred, 
unable,  for  the  moment,  to  be  more  explicit. 

As  the  girl  pointed  towards  the  precipice,  and  looked  the 
very  image  of  horror,  the  good-hearted  old  baronet  began  to 
get  some  glimpses  of  the  truth;  and,  by  means  of  a  few  words 
with  Dutton,  soon  knew  quite  as  much  as  his  two  com 
panions.  Descending  from  his  pony  with  surprising  activity 
for  one  of  his  years,  Sir  Wycherly  was  soon  on  his  feet,  and 
a  sort  of  confused  consultation  between  the  three  succeeded. 
Neither  liked  to  approach  the  cliff,  which  was  nearly  per 
pendicular  at  the  extremity  of  the  headland,  and  was  always 
a  trial  to  the  nerves  of  those  who  shrunk  from  standing  on 
the  verge  of  precipices.  They  stood  like  persons  paralyzed, 
until  Dutton,  ashamed  of  his  weakness,  and  recalling  the 
thous-md  lessons  in  coolness  and  courage,  he  had  received 
in  his  own  manly  profession,  madp  a  movement  towards  ad- 


32  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

vancing  to  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  re^i 
state  of  the  case.  The  blood  returned  to  the  cheeks  of  Mil 
dred,  too,  and  she  again  found  a  portion  of  her  natural  spirit 
raising  her  courage. 

"  Stop,  father,"  she  said,  hastily ;  "  you  are  infirm,  and 
are  in  a  tremour,  at  this  moment.  My  head  is  steadier — let 
me  go  to  the  verge  of  the  hill,  and  learn  what  has  hap 
pened." 

This  was  uttered  with  a  forced  calmness  that  deceived  hei 
auditors,  both  of  whom,  the  one  from  age,  and  the  other 
from  shattered  nerves,  were  certainly  in  no  condition  to  as 
sume  the  same  office.  It  required  the  all-seeing  eye,  which 
alone  can  scan  the  heart,  to  read  all  the  agonized  suspense 
with  which  that  young  and  beautiful  creature  approached  the 
spot,  where  she  might  command  a  view  of  the  whole  of  the 
side  of  the  fearful  declivity,  from  its  giddy  summit  to  the 
base  where  it  was  washed  by  the  sea.  The  latter,  indeed 
could  not  literally  be  seen  from  above,  the  waves  having  so 
far  undermined  the  cliff,  as  to  leave  a  projection  that  con 
cealed  the  point  where  the  rocks  and  the  water  came  abso 
lutely  in  contact;  the  upper  portion  of  the  weather-worn  rocks 
falling  a  little  inwards,  so  as  to  leave  a  ragged  surface  that 
was  sufficiently  broken  to  contain  patches  of  earth,  and 
verdure,  sprinkled  with  the  flowers  peculiar  to  such  an  ex 
posure.  The  fog,  also,  intercepted  the  sight,  giving  to  the 
descent  the  appearance  of  a  fathomless  abyss.  Had  the  life 
of  the  most  indifferent  person  been  in  jeopardy,  under  the 
circumstances  named,  Mildred  would  have  been  filled  with 
deep  awe ;  but  a  gush  of  tender  sensations,  which  had  hith 
erto  been  pent  in  the  sacred  privacy  of  her  virgin  affections 
struggled  with  natural  horror,  as  she  trod  lightly  on  the  very 
verge  of  the  declivity,  and  cast  a  timid  but  eager  glance  be 
neath.  Then  she  recoiled  a  step,  raised  her  hands  in  alarm, 
and  hid  her  face,  as  if  to  shut  out  some  frightful  spectacle. 

By  this  time,  Button's  practical  knowledge  and  recollec 
tion  had  returned.  As  is  common  with  seamen,  whose 
minds  contain  vivid  pictures  of  the  intricate  tracery  of  their 
vessel's  rigging  in  the  darkest  nights,  his  thoughts  had 
flashed  athwart  all  the  probable  circumstances,  and  presented 
a  just  image  of  the  facts. 

"  The  boy  could  not  be  seen  had  he  absolutely  fallen,  and 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  33 

were  there  no  fog ;  for  the  cliff  tumbles  home,  Sir  Wy- 
cherly,"  he  said,  eagerly,  unconsciously  using  a  familiar 
nautical  phrase  to  express  his  meaning.  "  He  must  be  cling 
ing  to  the  side  of  the  precipice,  and  that,  too,  above  the 
swell  of  the  rocks." 

Stimulated  by  a  common  feeling,  the  two  men  now  ad 
vanced  hastily  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  there,  indeed,  as 
with  Mildred  herself,  a  single  look  sufficed  to  tell  them  the 
whole  truth.  Young  Wychecombe,  in  leaning  forward  to 
pluck  a  flower,  had  pressed  so  hard  upon  the  bit  of  rock 
on  which  a  foot  rested,  as  to  cause  it  to  break,  thereby 
losing  his  balance.  A  presence  of  mind  that  amounted  al 
most  to  inspiration,  and  a  high  resolution,  alone  saved  him 
from  being  dashed  to  pieces.  Perceiving  the  rock  to  give 
way,  he  threw  himself  forward,  and  alighted  on  a  narrow 
shelf,  a  few  feet  beneath  the  place  where  he  had  just  stood, 
and  at  least  ten  feet  removed  from  it,  laterally.  The  shelf 
on  which  he  alighted  was  ragged,  and  but  two  or  three  feet 
wide.  It  would  have  afforded  only  a  check  to  his  fall,  had 
there  not  fortunately  been  some  shrubs  among  the  rocks 
above  it.  By  these  shrubs  the  young  man  caught,  actually 
swinging  off  in  the  air,  under  the  impetus  of  his  leap. 
Happily,  the  shrubs  were  too  well  rooted  to  give  way ;  and, 
swinging  himself  round,  with  the  address  of  a  sailor,  the 
youthful  lieutenant  was  immediately  on  his  feet,  in  compara 
tive  safety.  The  silence  that  succeeded  was  the  consequence 
of  the  shock  he  felt,  in  finding  him  so  suddenly  thrown  into 
this  perilous  situation.  The  summit  of  the  cliff  was  now 
about  six  fathoms  above  his  head,  and  the  shelf  on  which  he 
stood,  impended  over  a  portion  of  the  cliff  that  was  abso 
lutely  perpendicular,  and  which  might  be  said  to  be  out  of 
the  line  of  those  projections  along  which  he  had  so  lately 
been  idly  gathering  flowers.  It  was  physically  impossible 
for  any  human  being  to  extricate  himself  from  such  a  situa 
tion,  without  assistance  This  Wychecombe  understood  at 
a  glance,  and  he  had  passed  the  few  minutes  that  intervened 
between  his  fall  and  the  appearance  of  the  party  above  him, 
in  devising  the  means  necessary  to  his  liberation.  As  it 
was,  few  men,  unaccustomed  to  the  giddy  elevations  of  the 
mast,  could  have  mustered  a  sufficient  command  of  nerve  to 
maintain  a  position  on  the  ledge  where  he  stood.  EVCD 


34  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

he  could  not  have  continued  there,  without  steadying  his 
form  by  the  aid  of  the  bushes. 

As  soon  as  the  baronet  and  Button  got  a  glimpse  of  the 
perilous  position  of  young  Wychecombe,  each  recoiled  in 
horror  from  the  sight,  as  if  fearful  of  being  precipitated  on 
top  of  him.  Both,  then,  actually  lay  down  on  the  grass, 
arid  approached  the  edge  of  the  cliff  again,  in  that  humble 
attitude,  even  trembling  as  they  lay  at  length,  with  their 
chins  projecting  over  the  rocks,  staring  downwards  at  the 
victim.  The  young  man  could  see  nothing  of  all  this  ;  for, 
as  he  stood  with  his  back  against  the  cliff,  he  had  not  roon» 
to  turn,  with  safety,  or  even  to  look  upwards.  Mildreu. 
however,  seemed  to  lose  all  sense  of  self  and  of  danger,  ir\ 
view  of  the  extremity  in  which  the  youth  beneath  was  placed. 
She  stood  on  the  very  verge  of  the  precipice,  and  looked 
down  with  a  steadiness  and  impunity  that  would  have  been 
utterly  impossible  for  her  to  attain  under  less  exciting  cir 
cumstances  ;  even  allowing  the  young  man  to  catch  a 
glimpse  of  her  rich  locks,  as  they  hung  about  her  beautiful 
face. 

"  For  God's  sake,  Mildred,"  called  out  the  youth,  "  keep 
further  from  the  cliff — I  see  you,  and  we  can  now  hear  each 
other  without  so  much  risk."' 

"  What  can  we  do  to  rescue  you,  Wychecombe  ?"  eagerly 
asked  the  girl.  "  Tell  me,  I  entreat  you  ;  for  Sir  Wycherly 
and  my  father  are  both  unnerved  !" 

"  Blessed  creature  !  and  you  are  mindful  of  my  danger ! 
But,  be  not  uneasy,  Mildred  ;  do  as  I  tell  you,  and  all  will 
yet  be  well.  I  hope  you  hear  and  understand  what  I  say, 
dearest  girl  ?" 

"  Perfectly,"  returned  Mildred,  nearly  choked  by  the  effort 
to  be  calm.  "  I  hear  every  syllable — speak  on." 

"  Go  you  then  to  the  signal-halyards — let  one  end  fly 
loose,  and  pull  upon  the  other,  until  the  whole  line  has  come 
down — when  that,  is  done,  return  here,  and  I  will  tell  you 
more — but,  for  heaven's  sake,  keep  farther  from  the  cliff." 

The  thought  that  the  rope,  small  and  frail  as  it  seemed, 
might  be  of  use,  flashed  on  the  brain  of  the  girl ;  and  in  a 
moment  she  was  at  the  staff.  Time  and  again,  when  liquor 
incapacitated  her  father  to  perform  his  duty,  had  Mildred 
bent-on,  arid  hoisted  the  signals  for  him  ;  and  thus,  happily, 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  35 

she  was  expert  in  the  use  of  the  halyards.  In  a  minute  she 
had  unrove  them,  and  the  long  line  lay  in  a  little  pile  at  her 
feet. 

"  'T  is  done,  Wycherly,"  she  said,  again  looking  over  the 
cliff;  "  shall  I  throw  you  down  one  end  of  the  rope  '! — but, 
alas  !  I  have  not  strength  to  raise  you  ;  and  Sir  Wycherly 
and  father  seem  unable  to  assist  me  !" 

"  Do  not  hurry  yourself,  Mildred,  and  all  will  be  well. 
Go,  and  put  one  end  of  the  line  around  the  signal-staff,  then 
put  the  two  ends  together,  tie  them  in  a  knot,  and  drop  them 
down  over  my  head.  Be  careful  not  to  come  too  near  the 
cliff,  for—" 

The  last  injunction  was  useless,  Mildred  having  flown  to 
execute  her  commission.  Her  quick  mind  readily  compre 
hended  what  was  expected  of  her,  and  her  nimble  fingers 
soon  performed  their  task.  Tying  a  knot  in  the  ends 
of  the  line,  she  did  as  desired,  and  the  small  rope  was  soon 
dangling  within  reach  of  Wychecombe's  arm.  It  is  not  easy 
to  make  a  landsman  understand  the  confidence  which  a 
sailor  feels  in  a  rope.  Place  but  a  frail  and  rotten  piece  of 
twisted  hemp  in  his  hand,  and  he  will  risk  his  person  in 
situations  from  which  he  would  otherwise  recoil  in  dread. 
Accustomed  to  hang  suspended  in  the  air,  with  ropes  only 
for  his  foothold,  or  with  ropes  to  grasp  with  his  hand,  his 
eye  gets  an  intuitive  knowledge  of  what  will  sustain  him, 
and  he  unhesitatingly  trusts  his  person  to  a  few  seemingly 
slight  strands,  that,  to  one  unpractised,  appear  wholly  un 
worthy  of  his  confidence.  Signal-halyards  are  ropes  smaller 
than  the  little  finger  of  a  man  of  any  size  ;  but  they  are 
usually  made  with  care,  and  every  rope-yarn  tells.  Wyche- 
combe,  too,  was  aware  that  these  particular  halyards  were 
new,  for  he  had  assisted  in  reeving  them  himself,  only  the 
week  before.  It  was  owing  to  this  circumstance  that  they 
were  long  enough  to  reach  him  ;  a  large  allowance  for  wear 
and  tear  having  been  made  in  cutting  them  from  the  coil. 
As  it  was,  the  ends  dropped  some  twenty  feet  below  the 
ledge  on  which  he  stood. 

"  All  safe,  now,  Mildred !"  cried  the  young  man,  in  a 
voice  of  exultation,  the  moment  his  hand  caught  the  two 
ends  of  the  line,  which  he  immediately  passed  around  his 
body,  beneath  the  arms,  as  a  precaution  against  accidents. 


36  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  All  safe,  now,  dearest  girl ;  have  no  further  concern  about 
me." 

Mildred  drew  back,  for  worlds  could  not  have  tempted  her 
to  witness  the  desperate  effort  that  she  knew  must  follow- 
By  this  time,  Sir  Wycherly,  who  had  been  an  interested 
witness  of  all  that  passed,  found  his  voice,  and  assumed  the 
office  of  director. 

"  Stop,  my  young  namesake,"  he  eagerly  cried,  when  he 
found  that  the  sailor  was  about  to  make  an  effort  to  drag  his 
own  body  up  the  cliff;  "  stop  ;  that  \vil!  never  do  ;  let  Dut- 
ton  and  me  do  that  much  for  you,  at  least.  We  have  seen 
all  that  has  passed,  and  are  now  able  to  do  something." 

« No — no>  Sir  Wycherly — on  no  account  touch  the  hal 
yards.  By  hauling  them  over  the  top  of  the  rocks  you  will 
probably  cut  them,  or  part  them,  and  then  I  'm  lost,  with 
out  hope  !" 

"  Oh  !  Sir  Wycherly,"  said  Mildred,  earnestly,  clasping 
her  hands  together,  as  if  to  enforce  the  request  with  prayer  ; 
"  do  not — do  not  touch  the  line." 

"  We  had  better  let  the  lad  manage  the  matter  in  his  own 
way,"  put  in  Dutton  ;  "  he  is  active,  resolute,  and  a  seaman, 
and  will  do  better  for  himself  than  I  fear  we  can  do  for  him. 
He  has  got  a  turn  round  his  body,  and  is  tolerably  safe 
against  any  slip,  or  mishap." 

As  the  words  were  uttered,  the  whole  three  drew  back  a 
short  distance  and  watched  the  result,  in  intense  anxiety. 
Dutton,  however,  so  far  recollected  himself,  as  to  take  an 
end  of  the  old  halyards,  which  were  kept  in  a  chest  at  the 
foot  of  the  staff,  and  to  make  an  attempt  to  stopper  together 
the  two  parts  of  the  little  rope  on  which  the  youth  depended, 
for  should  one  of  the  parts  of  it  break,  without  this  precau 
tion,  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  the  halyards  from  run 
ning  round  the  staff,  and  destroying  the  hold.  The  size  of 
the  halyards  rendered  this  expedient  very  difficult  of  attain 
ment,  but  enough  was  done  to  give  the  arrangement  a  little 
more  of  the  air  of  security.  All  this  time  young  Wyche- 
combe  was  making  his  own  preparations  on  the  ledge,  and 
quite  out  of  view;  but  the  tension  on  the  halyards  soon  an 
nounced  that  his  weight  was  now  pendent  from  them.  Mil 
dred's  hnart  seemed  ready  to  leap  from  her  mouth,  as  she 
note*1  each  jerk  on  the  lines  ;  and  her  father  watched  every 


THETWOADMIRALS.  37 

new  pull,  as  if  he  expected  the  next  moment  would  produce 
the  final  catastophe.  It  required  a  prodigious  effort  in  the 
young  man  to  raise  his  own  weight  for  such  a  distance,  by 
lines  so  small.  Had  the  rope  been  of  any  size,  the 
achievement  would  have  been  trifling  for  one  of  the  frame 
and  habits  of  the  sailor,  more  especially  as  he  could  slightly 
avail  himself  of  his  feet,  by  pressing  them  against  the  rocks  ; 
but,  as  it  was,  he  felt  as  if  he  were  dragging  the  mountain 
up  after  him.  At  length,  his  head  appeared  a  few  inches 
above  the  rocks,  but  with  his  feet  pressed  against  the  cliff, 
and  his  body  inclining  outward,  at  an  angle  of  forty-five 
degrees. 

"  Help  him — help  him,  father  !"  exclaimed  Mildred,  cover 
ing  her  face  with  her  hands,  to  exclude  the  sight  of  Wyche- 
combe's  desperate  struggles.  "  If  he  fall  now,  he  will  be 
destroyed.  Oh  !  save  him,  save  him,  Sir  Wycherly !" 

But  neither  of  those  to  whom  she  appealed,  could  be  of 
any  use.  The  nervous  trembling  again  came  over  the  fa 
ther  ;  and  as  for  the  baronet,  age  and  inexperience  rendered 
him  helpless. 

"  Have  you  no  rope,  Mr.  Dutton,  to  throw  over  my 
shoulders,"  cried  Wychecombe.  suspending  his  exertions  in 
pure  exhaustion,  still  keeping  all  he  had  gained,  with  his 
head  projecting  outward,  over  the  abyss  beneath,  and  his 
face  turned  towards  heaven.  "  Throw  a  rope  over  my 
shoulders,  and  drag  my  body  in  to  the  clifF." 

Dutton  showed  an  eager  desire  to  comply,  but  his  nerves 
had  not  yet  been  excited  by  the  usual  potations,  and  his 
hands  shook  in  a  way  to  render  it  questionable  whether  he 
could  perform  even  this  simple  service.  But  for  his  daugh 
ter,  indeed,  he  would  hardly  have  set  about  it  intelligently. 
Mildred,  accustomed  to  using  the  signal-halyards,  procured 
the  old  line,  and  handed  it  to  her  father,  who  discovered 
some  of  his  professional  knowledge  in  his  manner  of  using 
it.  Doubling  the  halyards  twice,  he  threw  the  bight  over 
Wychecombe's  shoulders, and  aided  by  Mildred, endeavoured 
to  draw  the  body  of  the  young  man  upwards  and  towards 
the  cliff.  But  their  united  strength  was  unequal  to  the  task, 
and  wearied  with  holding  on,  and,  indeed,  unable  to  support 
his  own  weight  any  longer  by  so  small  a  rope  Wychecombe 
felt  compelled  to  suffer  his  feet  to  drop  beneatb  him  and  slid 
4 


38  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

down  again  upon  the  ledge.  Here,  even  his  vigorous  frame 
shook  with  its  prodigious  exertions  ;  and  he  was  compelled 
to  seat  himself  on  the  shelf,  and  rest  with  his  back  against 
the  cliff,  to  recover  his  self-command  and  strength.  Mil 
dred  uttered  a  faint  shriek  as  he  disappeared,  but  was  too 
much  horror-stricken  to  approach  the  verge  of  the  precipice 
to  ascertain  his  fate. 

"  Be  composed,  Milly,"  said  her  father,  "  he  is  safe,  a? 
you  may  see  by  the  halyards  ;  and  to  say  the  truth,  the  stuff 
holds  on  well.  So  long  as  the  line  proves  true,  the  boy 
can't  fall  ;  he  has  taken  a  double  turn  with  the  end  of  it  rcund 
his  body.  Make  your  mind  easy,  girl,  for  I  feel  better  now, 
and  see  my  way  clear.  Don't  be  uneasy,  Sir  Wycherly ; 
we  '11  have  the  lad  safe  on  terra  firma  again,  in  ten  minutes. 
I  scarce  know  what  has  come  over  me,  this  morning ;  but 
I  've  not  had  the  command  of  my  limbs  as  in  common.  I* 
cannot  be  fright,  for  I  've  seen  too  many  men  in  danger  to  be 
disabled  by  that;  and  I  think,  Milly,  it  must  be  the  rheuma 
tism,  of  which  I  've  so  often  spoken,  and  which  I  've  inhe 
rited  from  my  poor  mother,  dear  old  soul.  Do  you  know, 
Sir  Wycherly,  that  rheumatism  can  be  inherited  like  gout?" 

"  I  dare  say  it  may  —  I  dare  say  it  may,  Dutton  —  but 
never  mind  the  disease,  now ;  get  my  young  namesake  back 
here  on  the  grass,  and  I  will  hear  all  about  it.  I  would  give 
the  world  that  I  had  not  sent  Dick  to  Mr.  Rotherham's  this 
morning.  Can't  we  contrive  to  make  the  pony  pull  the 
boy  up  ?" 

"  The  traces  are  hardly  strong  enough  for  such  work,  Sir 
Wycherly.  Have  a  little  patience,  and  I  will  manage  the 
whole  thing,  '  ship-shape,  and  Brister-fashion,'  as  we  say  at 
sea.  Halloo  there,  Master  Wychecombe — answer  my  hail, 
and  I  will  soon  get  you  into  deep  water." 

"  I  'm  safe  on  the  ledge,"  returned  the  voice  of  Wyche 
combe,  from  below ;  "  I  wish  you  would  look  to  the  signal- 
halyards,  and  see  they  do  not  chafe  against  the  rocks,  Mr. 
Dutton." 

"  All  right,  sir  ;  all  right.  Slack  up,  if  you  please,  and 
let  me  have  all  the  line  you  can,  without  casting  off  from 
vour  body.  Keep  fast  the  end,  for  fear  of  accidents." 

In  an  instant  the  halyards  slackened,  and  Dutton,  who  by 
this  time  had  gained  his  self-command,  though  still  weak 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  OV 

and  unnerved  by  the  habits  of  the  last  fifteen  years,  forced 
the  bight  along  the  edge  of  the  cliff,  until  he  had  brought  it 
over  a  projection  of  the  rocks,  where  it  fastened  itself.  This 
arrangement  caused  the  line  to  lead  down  to  the  part  of  the 
cliffs  from  which  the  young  man  had  fallen,  and  where  it  was 
by  no  means  difficult  for  a  steady  head  and  active  limbs  to 
move  about  and  pluck  flowers.  It  consequently  remained 
for  Wychecombe  merely  to  regain  a  footing  on  that  part  of 
the  hill-side,  to  ascend  to  the  summit  without  difficulty.  It 
is  true  he  was  now  below  the  point  from  which  he  had  fallen , 
but  by  swinging  himself  off  laterally,  or  even  by  springing, 
aided  by  the  line,  it  was  not  a  difficult  achievement  to  reach 
it,  and  he  no  sooner  understood  the  nature  of  the  change 
that  had  been  made,  than  he  set  about  attempting  it.  The 
confident  manner  of  Button  encouraged  both  the  baronet 
and  Mildred,  and  they  drew  to  the  cliff,  again  ;  standing  near 
the  verge,  though  on  the  part  where  the  rocks  might  be  de 
scended,  with  less  apprehension  of  consequences. 

As  soon  as  Wychecombe  had  made  all  his  preparations, 
he  stood  on  the  end  of  the  ledge,  tightened  the  line,  looked 
carefully  for  a  foothold  on  the  other  side  of  the  chasm,  and 
made  his  leap.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  body  of  the 
young  man  swung  readily  across  the  space,  until  the  line 
became  perpendicular,  and  then  he  found  a  surface  so 
broken,  as  to  render  his  ascent  by  no  means  difficult,  aided 
as  he  was  by  the  halyards.  Scrambling  upwards,  he  soon 
rejected  the  aid  of  the  line,  and  sprang  upon  the  head-land. 
\t  the  same  instant,  Mildred  fell  senseless  on  the  grass. 


40  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER   III 


**  I  want  a  hero  : — an  uncommon  want, 
When  every  year  and  month  send  forth  a  ne 
'Till,  after  cloying  the  gazettes  with  cant, 
The  age  discovers  he  is  not  the  true  one ; — " 


BYRON. 


ly  consequence  of  the  unsteadiness  of  the  father's  nerves 
the  duty  of  raising  Mildred  in  his  arms,  and  of  carrying  her 
to  the  cottage,  devolved  on  the  young  man.  This  he  did 
with  a  readiness  and  concern  which  proved  how  deep  an 
interest  he  took  in  her  situation,  and  with  a  power  of  arm 
which  showed  that  his  strength  was  increased  rather  than 
lessened  by  the  condition  into  which  she  had  fallen.  So 
rapid  was  his  movement,  that  no  one  saw  the  kiss  he  im 
pressed  on  the  pallid  cheek  of  the  sweet  girl,  or  the  tender 
pressure  with  which  he  grasped  the  lifeless  form.  By  the 
time  he  reached  the  door,  the  motion  and  air  had  begun  to 
revive  her,  and  Wychecombe  committed  her  to  the  care  of 
her  alarmed  mother,  with  a  few  hurried  words  of  explana 
tion.  He  did  not  leave  the  house,  however,  for  a  quarter  of 
an  hour,  except  to  call  out  to  Dutton  that  Mildred  was  re 
viving,  and  that  he  need  be  under  no  uneasiness  on  her  ac- 
count.  Why  he  remained  so  long,  we  leave  the  reader  to 
imagine,  for  the  girl  had  been  immediately  taken  to  her 
own  little  chamber,  and  he  saw  her  no  more  for  several 
hours. 

When  our  young  sailor  came  out  upon  the  head-land 
again,  he  found  the  party  near  the  flag-staff  increased  to 
four.  Dick,  the  groom,  had  returned  from  his  errand,  and 
Tom  Wychecombe,  the  intended  heir  of  the  baronet,  was 
also  there,  in  mourning  for  his  reputed  father,  the  judge. 
This  young  man  had  become  a  frequent  visiter  to  the  sta 
tion,  of  late,  affecting  to  imbibe  his  uncle's  taste  for  sea 
air,  and  a  view  of  the  ocean.  There  had  been  several  meet 
ings  between  himself  and  his  namesake,  and  each  interview 
was  becoming  less  amicable  than  the  preceding,  for  a  reason 
»hat  was  sufficiently  known  to  the  parties.  When  they  met 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  41 

on  the  present  occasion,  therefore,  the  bows  they  exchanged 
were  haughty  and  distant,  and  the  glances  cast  at  each  other 
might  have  been  termed  hostile,  were  it  not  that  a  sinister 
irony  was  blended  with  that  of  Tom  Wychecombe.  Still, 
the  feelings  that  were  uppermost  did  not  prevent  the  latter 
from  speaking  in  an  apparently  friendly  manner. 

"  They  tell  me,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  observed  the  judge's 
heir,  (for  this  Tom  Wychecombe  might  legally  claim  to  be';) 
"  they  tell  me,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  that  you  have  been  taking 
a  lesson  in  your  trade  this  morning,  by  swinging  over  the 
cliffs  at  the  end  of  a  rope  1  Now,  that  is  an  exploit,  more 
to  the  taste  of  an  American  than  to  that  of  an  Englishman 
I  should  think.  But,  I  dare  say  one  is  compelled  to  do  man} 
things  in  the  colonies,  that  we  never  dream  of  at  home." 

This  was  said  with  seeming  indifference,  though  with 
great  art.  Sir  Wycherly's  principal  weakness  was  an  over 
weening  and  an  ignorant  admiration  of  his  own  country,  an<J 
all  it  contained.  He  was  also  strongly  addicted  to  that  feel 
mg  of  contempt  for  the  dependencies  of  the  empire,  whicfc 
seems  to  be  inseparable  from  the  political  connection  be 
tween  the  people  of  the  metropolitan  country  and  their  colo 
nies.  There  must  be  entire  equality,  for  perfect  respect,  iw 
any  situation  in  life ;  and,  as  a  rule,  men  always  appropriate 
to  their  own  shares,  any  admitted  superiority  that  may  hap 
pen  to  exist  on  the  part  of  the  communities  to  which  they 
belong.  It  is  on  this  principle,  that  the  tenant  of  a  cock 
loft  in  Paris  or  London,  is  so  apt  to  feel  a  high  claim  to  su 
periority  over  the  occupant  of  a  comfortable  abode  in  a 
village.  As  between  England  and  her  North  American 
colonies  in  particular,  this  feeling  was  stronger  than  is  the 
case  usually, on  account  of  the  early  democratical  tendencies 
of  the  latter ;  not,  that  these  tendencies  had  already  become 
the  subject  of  political  jealousies,  but  that  they  left  social  im 
pressions,  which  were  singularly  adapted  to  bringing  the 
colonists  into  contempt  among  a  people  predominant  for 
their  own  factitious  habits,  and  who  are  so  strongly  inclined 
to  view  every  thing,  even  to  principles,  through  the  medium 
of  arbitrary,  conventional  customs.  It  must  be  confessed 
that  the  Americans,  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
were  an  exceedingly  provincial,  and  in  many  particulars  a 
narrow-minded  people,  as  well  in  their  opinions  as  in  thur 
4* 


42  T  II  ETWO     ADMIRALS. 

habits ;  nor  is  the  reproach  altogether  removed  at  the  pre 
sent  day  ;  but  the  country  from  which  they  are  derived  had 
not  then  made  the  vast  strides  in  civilization,  for  which  it 
has  latterly  become  so  distinguished.  The  indifference,  too, 
with  which  all  Europe  regarded  the  whole  American  conti 
nent,  and  to  which  England,  herself,  though  she  possessed 
so  large  a  stake  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  formed  no  ma 
terial  exception,  constantly  led  that  quarter  of  the  world  into 
profound  mistakes  in  all  its  reasoning  that  was  connected 
with  this  quarter  of  the  world,  and  aided  in  producing  the 
state  of  feeling  to  which  we  have  alluded.  Sir  Wycherly 
felt  and  reasoned  on  the  subject  of  America  much  as  the 
great  bulk  of  his  countrymen  felt  and  reasoned  in  1745  ; 
the  exceptions  existing  only  among  the  enlightened,  and 
those  whose  particular  duties  rendered  more  correct  know 
ledge  necessary,  and  not  always  among  them.  It  is  said 
that  the  English  minister  conceived  the  idea  of  taxing 
America,  from  the  circumstance  of  seeing  a  wealthy  Vir 
ginian  lose  a  large  sum  at  play,  a  sort  of  argumentum 
ad  homincm  that  brought  with  it  a  very  dangerous  con 
clusion  to  apply  to  the  sort  of  people  with  whom  he  had  to 
deal.  Let  this  be  as  it  might,  there  is  no  more  question,  that 
at  the  period  of  our  tale,  the  profoundest  ignorance  concern 
ing  America  existed  generally  in  the  mother  country,  than 
there  is  that  the  profoundest  respect  existed  in  America  for 
nearly  every  thing  English.  Truth  compels  us  to  add,  that 
in  despite  of  all  that  has  passed,  the  cis-atlantic  portion  of 
the  weakness  has  longest  endured  the  assaults  of  time  and 
of  an  increased  intercourse. 

Young  Wycrerly,  as  is  ever  the  case,  was  keenly 
alive  to  any  insinuations  that  might  be  supposed  to  reflect 
on  the  portion  of  the  empire  of  which  he  was  a  native.  He 
considered  himself  an  Englishman,  it  is  true;  was  thoroughly 
loyal ;  and  was  every  way  disposed  to  sustain  the  honour 
and  interests  of  the  scat  of  authority ;  but  when  questions 
were  raised  between  Europe  and  America,  he  was  an  Ameri 
can  ;  as,  in  America  itself,  he  regarded  himself  as  purely  a 
Virginian,  in  contradistinction  to  all  the  other  colonies.  He 
understood  the  intended  sarcasm  of  Tom  Wychecombe,  but 
smothered  his  resentment,  out  of  respect  to  the  baronet,  and 


THETWOADMIRALS.  43 

perhaps  a  .ittle  influenced  by  the  feelings  in  which  he  had 
been  so  lately  indulging. 

"  Those  gentlemen  who  are  disposed  to  fancy  such  things 
of  the  colonies,  would  do  well  to  visit  that  part  of  the  world," 
he  answered,  calmly,  "  before  they  express  their  opinions  too 
loudly,  lest  they  should  say  something  that  future  observa 
tion  might  make  them  wish  to  recall." 

"  True,  my  young  friend — quite  true,"  put  in  the  baronet, 
with  the  kindest  possible  intentions.  "  True  as  gospel.  We 
never  know  any  thing  of  matters  about  which  we  know  no 
thing  ;  that  we  old  men  must  admit,  Master  Dutton  ;  and  I 
should  think  Tom  must  see  its  force.  It  would  be  unrea 
sonable  to  expect  to  find  every  thing  as  comfortable  in 
America  as  we  have  it  here,  in  England ;  nor  do  I  sup 
pose  the  Americans,  in  general,  would  be  as  likely  to  get 
over  a  cliff  as  an  Englishman.  However,  there  are  excep 
tions  to  all  general  rules,  as  my  poor  brother  James  used  to 
say,  when  he  saw  occasion  to  find  fault  with  the  sermon  of 
a  prelate.  I  believe  you  did  not  know  my  poor  brother, 
Dutton ;  he  must  have  been  killed  about  the  time  you  were 
born  —  St.  James,  I  used  to  call  him,  although  my  brother 
Thomas,  the  judge  that  was,  Tom's  father,  there — said  he 
was  St.  James  the  less." 

"  I  believe  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wychecombe  was  dead  before  I 
was  of  an  age  to  remember  his  virtues,  Sir  Wychejrly,"  said 
Dutton,  respectfully ;  "  though  I  have  often  heard  my  own 
father  speak  of  all  your  honoured  family." 

"  Yes,  your  father,  Dutton,  was  the  attorney  of  the  next 
town,  and  we  all  knew  him  well.  You  have  done  quite 
right  to  come  back  among  us  to  spend  the  close  of  your  own 
days.  A  man  is  never  as  well  off,  as  when  he  is  thriving 
in  his  native  soil ;  more  especially  when  that  soil  is  old  Eng 
land,  and  Devonshire.  You  are  not  one  of  us,  young  gen 
tleman,  though  your  name  happens  to  be  Wychecombe ; 
but,  then  we  are  none  of  us  accountable  for  our  own  births, 
or  birth-places." 

This  truism,  which  is  in  the  mouths  of  thousands  while  it 
is  in  the  hearts  of  scarcely  any,  was  well  meant  by  Si* 
Wycherly,  however  plainly  expressed.  It  merely  drew  from 
the  youth  the  simple  answer  that — "  he  was  born  in  the 


44  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

colonies,  and  had  colonists  for  his  parents ;"  a  fuct  that  the 
others  had  heard  already,  some  ten  or  a  dozen  times. 

"  It  is  a  little  singular,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  that  you  should 
bear  both  of  my  names,  and  yet  be  no  relative,"  continued 
the  baronet.  "  Now,  Wycherly  came  into  our  family  from 
old  Sir  Hildebrand  Wycherly,  who  was  slain  at  Bosworth 
Field,  and  whose  only  daughter,  my  ancestor,  and  Tom's 
ancestor,  there,  married.  Since  that  day,  Wycherly  has 
been  a  favourite  name  among  us.  I  do  not  think  that  tho 
Wychecombes  of  Herts,  ever  thought  of  calling  a  son  Wy- 
cherly,  although,  as  my  poor  brother  the  judge  used  to  say 
they  were  related,  but  of  the  half-blood,  only.  I  suppose 
your  father  taught  you  what  is  meant  by  being  of  the  half- 
blood,  Thomas  ?" 

Tom  WTychecombe's  face  became  the  colour  of  scarlet, 
and  he  cast  an  uneasy  glance  at  all  present ;  expecting  in 
particular,  to  meet  with  a  look  of  exultation  in  the  eyes 
of  the  lieutenant.  He  was  greatly  relieved,  however,  at 
finding  that  neither  of  the  three  meant  or  understood  more 
than  was  simply  expressed.  As  for  his  uncle,  he  had  not 
the  smallest  intention  of  making  any  allusion  to  the  peculi 
arity  of  his  nephew's  birth ;  and  the  other  two,  in  common 
with  the  world,  supposed  the  reputed  heir  to  be  legitimate. 
Gathering  courage  from  the  looks  of  those  around  him,  Tom 
answered  with  a  steadiness  that  prevented  his  agitation  from 
being  detected  : 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  sir  ;  my  excellent  parent  forgot  no 
thing  that  he  thought  might  be  useful  to  me,  in  maintaining 
my  rights,  and  the  honour  of  the  family,  hereafter.  I  very 
well  understand  that  the  Wychecombes  of  Hertfordshire 
have  no  claims  on  us ;  nor,  indeed,  any  Wychecombe  who 
is  not  descended  from  my  respectable  grandfather,  the  late 
Sir  Wycherly." 

"  He  must  have  been  an  early,  instead  of  a  late  Sir  Wy 
cherly,  rather,  Mr.  Thomas,"  put  in  Button,  laughing  at  his 
own  conceit ;  "  for  I  can  remember  no  other  than  the 
honourable  baronet  before  us,  in  the  last  fifty  years." 

"  Quite  true,  Dutton — very  true,"  rejoined  the  person  last 
alluded  to.  "  As  true  as  that  '  time  and  tide  wait  for  no 
man.'  We  understand  the  meaning  of  such  things  on  the 
coast  here.  It  was  half  a  century,  last  October,  since  I 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  45 

succeeded  my  respected  parent ;  but,  it  will  not  be  another 
half  century  before  some  one  will  succeed  me !" 

Sir  Wycherly  was  a  hale,  hearty  man  for  his  years,  but 
he  had  no  unmanly  dread  of  his  end.  Still  he  felt  it  could 
not  be  very  distant,  having  already  numbered  fourscore  and 
four  years.  Nevertheless,  there  were  certain  phrases  of 
usage,  that  Button  did  not  see  fit  to  forget  on  such  an  occa 
sion,  and  he  answered  accordingly,  turning  to  look  at  and 
admire  the  still  ruddy  countenance  of  the  baronet,  by  way 
of  giving  emphasis  to  his  words. 

"  You  will  yet  see  half  of  us  into  our  graves,  Sir  Wycherly," 
he  said,  "  and  still  remain  an  active  man.  Though  I  dare 
say  another  half  century  will  bring  most  of  us  up.  Even 
Mr.  Thomas,  here,  and  your  young  namesake  can  hardly 
hope  to  run  out  more  line  than  that.  Well,  as  for  myself, 
I  only  desire  to  live  through  this  war,  that  I  may  again  see 
His  Majesty's  arms  triumphant ;  though  they  do  tell  me  that 
we  are  in  for  a  good  thirty  years'  struggle.  Wars  have 
lasted  as  long  as  that,  Sir  Wycherly,  and  I  don't  see  why 
this  may  not,  as  well  as  another." 

"  Very  true,  Dutton ;  it  is  not  only  possible,  but  proba 
ble  ;  and  I  trust  both  you  and  I  may  live  to  see  our  flower- 
hunter  here,  a  post-captain,  at  least  —  though  it  would  be 
wishing  almost  too  much  to  expect  to  see  him  an  admiral. 
There  has  been  one  admiral  of  the  name,  and  I  confess  I 
should  like  to  see  another !" 

"  Has  not  Mr.  Thomas  a  brother  in  the  service  ?"  de 
manded  the  master  ;  "  I  had  thought  that  my  lord,  the  judge, 
had  given  us  one  of  his  young  gentlemen." 

"  He  thought  of  it ;  but  the  army  got  both  of  the  boys,  as 
it  turned  out.  Gregory  was  to  be  the  midshipman ;  my 
poor  brother  intending  him  for  a  sailor  from  the  first,  and  so 
giving  him  the  name  that  was  once  borne  by  the  unfortunate 
relative  we  lost  by  shipwreck.  I  wished  him  to  call  one  of  the 
lads  James,  after  St.  James ;  but,  somehow,  I  never  could 
persuade  Thomas  to  see  all  the  excellence  of  that  pious 
young  man." 

Dutton  was  a  little  embarrassed,  for  St.  James  had  left 
anything  but  a  godly  savour  behind  him ;  and  he  was  about 
to  fabricate  a  tolerably  bold  assertion  to  the  contrary,  rather 
Ihan  incur  the  risk  of  offending  the  lord  of  the  manor,  when, 


46  THET  WO     ADMIRALS. 

luckily,  a  change  in  the  state  of  the  fog  afforded  him  a  fa 
vourable  opportunity  of  bringing  about  an  apposite  change 
in  the  subject.  During  the  whole  of  the  morning  the  sea 
had  been  invisible  from  the  head-land,  a  dense  body  of  va 
pour  resting  on  it,  far  as  eye  could  reach  ;  veiling  the  whole 
expanse  with  a  single  white  cloud.  The  lighter  portions  of 
the  vapour  had  at  first  floated  around  the  head-land,  which 
could  not  have  been  seen  at  any  material  distance ;  but  all 
had  been  gradually  settling  down  into  a  single  mass,  that 
now  rose  within  twenty  feet  of  the  summit  of  the  cliffs.  The 
hour  was  still  quite  early,  but  the  sun  was  gaining  force, 
and  it  speedily  drank  up  all  the  lighter  particles  of  the  mist, 
leaving  a  clear,  bright  atmosphere  above  the  feathery  bank, 
through  which  objects  might  be  seen  for  miles.  There  was 
what  seamen  call  a  "  fanning  breeze,"  or  just  wind  enough 
to  cause  the  light  sails  of  a  ship  to  swell  and  collapse,  under 
the  double  influence  of  the  air  and  the  motion  of  the  hull, 
imitating  in  a  slight  degree  the  vibrations  of  that  familiar 
appliance  of  the  female  toilet.  Button's  eye  had  caught  a 
glance  of  the  loftiest  sail  of  a  vessel,  above  the  fog,  going 
through  this  very  movement ;  and  it  afforded  him  the  release 
he  desired,  by  enabling  him  to  draw  the  attention  of  his 
companions  to  the  same  object. 

"  See,  Sir  Wycherly — see,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  he  cried, 
eagerly,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  sail ;  "  yonder  is 
some  of  the  king's  canvass  coming  into  our  roadstead,  or  I 
am  no  judge  of  the  set  of  a  man-of-war's  royal.  It  is  a 
large  bit  of  cloth,  too,  Mr.  Lieutenant,  for  a  sail  so  lofty  !" 

"  It  is  a  two-decker's  royal,  Master  Dutton,"  returned  the 
young  sailor  ;  "  and  now  you  see  the  fore  and  main,  sepa 
rately,  as  the  ship  keeps  away." 

*'  Well,"  put  in  Sir  Wycherly,  in  a  resigned  manner ; 
"  here  have  I  lived  fourscore  years  on  this  coast,  and,  for 
the  life  of  me,  I  have  never  been  able  to  tell  a  fore-royal 
from  a  back-royal  ;  or  a  mizzen  head-stay  from  a  head 
mizzen-stay.  They  are  the  most  puzzling  things  imagina 
ble  ;  and  now  I  cannot  discover  how  you  know  that  yonder 
sail,  which  I  see  plain  enough,  is  a  royal,  any  more  than 
that  it  is  a  jib  !" 

Dutton  and  the  lieutenant  smiled,  but  Sir  Wycherly's 
simplicity  had  a  cast  of  truth  and  nature  about  it,  that  de- 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  47 

terred  most  people  from  wishing  to  ridicule  him.  Then,  the 
rank,  fortune,  and  local  interest  of  the  baronet,  counted  for 
a  good  deal  on  all  such  occasions. 

"  Here  is  another  fellow,  farther  east,"  cried  Button,  still 
pointing  with  a  finger ;  "  and  <?very  inch  as  big  as  his  con 
sort  !  Ah  !  it  does  my  eyes  good  to  see  our  roadstead  come 
into  notice,  in  this  manner,  after  all  I  have  said  and  done  in 

its  behalf But,  who  have  we  here — a  brother  chip,  by 

his  appearance ;  I  dare  say  some  idler  who  has  been  sent 
ashore  with  despatches." 

"  There  is  another  fellow  further  east,  and  every  inch  as 
big  as  his  consort,"  said  Wychecombe,  as  we  shall  call  our 
lieutenant,  in  order  to  distinguish  him  from  Tom  of  the  same 
name,  repeating  the  very  words  of  Button,  with  an  applica 
tion  and  readiness  that  almost  amounted  to  wit,  pointing,  in 
his  turn,  at  two  strangers  who  were  ascending  to  the  station 
by  a  path  that  led  from  the  beach.  "  Certainly  both  these 
gentlemen  are  in  His  Majesty's  service,  and  they  have  pro 
bably  just  landed  from  the  ships  in  the  offing." 

The  truth  of  this  conjecture  was  apparent  to  Button  at  a 
glance.  As  the  strangers  joined  each  other,  the  one  lasl 
seen  proceeded  in  advance ;  and  there  was  something  in  his 
years,  the  confident  manner  in  which  he  approached,  and 
his  general  appearance,  that  induced  both  the  sailors  to  be 
lieve  he  might  be  the  commander  of  one  of  the  ships  that  had 
just  come  in  view. 

"  Good-morrow,  gentlemen,"  commenced  this  person,  as 
soon  as  near  enough  to  salute  the  party  at  the  foot  of  the 
flag-staff;  "  good-morrow  to  ye  all.  I'm  glad  to  meet  you, 
for  it 's  but  a  Jacob's  ladder,  this  path  of  yours,  through  the 
ravine  in  the  cliffs.  Hey  !  why  Atwood,"  looking  around 
him  at  the  sea  of  vapour,  in  surprise,  "  what  the  devil  has 
become  of  the  fleet  ?" 

"  It  is  lost  in  the  fog,  sir  ;  we  are  above  it,  here  ;  when 
more  on  a  level  with  the  ships,  we  could  see,  or  fancy  we 
saw,  more  of  them  than  we  do  now." 

"  Here  are  the  upper  sails  of  two  heavy  ships,  sir,"  ob 
served  Wychecombe,  pointing  in  the  direction  of  the  vessels 
already  seen ;  **  ay,  and  yonder  are  two  more — nothing  but 
the  royals  are  visible." 

"  Two  more  ! — I  left  eleven  two-deckers,  three  frigates,  a 


48  THETWOADMIRALS 

sloop,  and  a  cutter  in  sight,  when  I  got  into  the  boat.  You 
might  have  covered  'em  all  with  a  pocket-handkerchief,  hey  1 
Atwood  ?" 

"  They  were  certainly  in  close  order,  sir,  but  I  '11  not  take 
it  on  myself  to  say  quite  as  near  together  as  that." 

"  Ay,  you  're  a  dissenter  by  trade,  and  never  will  believe 
in  a  miracle.  Sharp  work,  gentlemen,  to  get  up  such  a 
hill  as  this,  after  fifty." 

"  It  is,  indeed,  sir,"  answered  Sir  Wycherly,  kindly. 
"  Will  you  do  us  the  fkvour  to  take  a  seat  among  us,  and 
rest  yourself  after  so  violent  an  exertion  1  The  cliff  is  hard 
enough  to  ascend,  even  when  one  keeps  the  path ;  though 
here  is  a  young  gentleman  who  had  a  fancy  just  now  to  go 
down  it,  without  a  path ;  and  that,  too,  merely  that  a  pretty 
girl  might  have  a  nosegay  on  her  breakfast-table." 

The  stranger  looked  intently  at  Sir  Wycherly  for  a  mo 
ment,  then  glanced  his  eye  at  the  groom  and  the  pony,  after 
which  he  took  a  survey  of  Tom  Wychecombe,  the  lieutenant, 
and  the  master.  He  was  a  man  accustomed  to  look  about 
him,  and  he  understood,  by  that  rapid  glance,  the  characters 
of  all  he  surveyed,  with  perhaps  the  exception  of  that  of 
Tom  Wychecombe  ;  and  even  of  that  he  formed  a  tolerably 
jhrewd  conjecture.  Sir  Wycherly  he  immediately  set  down 
as  the  squire  of  the  adjacent  estate ;  Button's  situation  he 
hit  exactly,  conceiving  him  to  be  a  worn-out  master,  who 
was  employed  to  keep  the  signal-station ;  while  he  under 
stood  Wychecombe,  by  his  undress,  and  air,  to  be  a  sea- 
lieutenant  in  the  king's  service.  Tom  Wychecombe  he 
thought  it  quite  likely  might  be  the  son  and  heir  of  the  lord 
of  the  manor,  both  being  in  mourning  ;  though  he  decided 
in  his  own  mind  that  there  was  not  the  smallest  family  like 
ness  between  them.  Bowing  with  the  courtesy  of  a  man 
who  knew  how  to  acknowledge  a  civility,  he  took  the  prof 
fered  seat  at  Sir  Wycherly's  side  without  farther  ceremony. 

"  We  must  carry  the  young  fellow  to  sea  with  us,  sir,"  re 
joined  the  stranger,  "  and  that  will  cure  him  of  looking  for 
flowers  in  such  ticklish  places.  His  Majesty  has  need  of  us 
all,  in  this  war ;  and  I  trust,  young  gentleman,  you  have 
not  been  long  ashore,  among  the  girls." 

"  Only  long  enough  to  make  a  cure  of  a  pretty  smart 
jiurt,  received  in  cutting  out  a  lugger  from  the  opposite 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  49 

coast,"  answered  Wychecombe,  with  sufficient  modesty,  and 
yet  with  sufficient  spirit. 

"  Lugger ! — ha !  what  Atwood  ?  You  surely  do  not  mean, 
young  gentleman,  la  Voltigeuse  ?" 

"  That  was  the  name  of  the  craft,  sir  —  we  found  her  in 
the  roads  of  Groix." 

"  And  then  I  've  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Wychecombe, 
the  young  officer  who  led  in  that  gallant  attack  T* 

This  was  said  with  a  most  flattering  warmth  of  manner, 
the  stranger  even  rising  and  removing  his  hat,  as  he  uttered 
the  words  with  a  heartiness  that  showed  how  much  his  feel 
ings  were  in  unison  with  what  he  said. 

"  I  am  Mr.  Wychecombe,  sir,"  answered  the  other,  blush 
ing  to  the  temples,  and  returning  the  salute  ;  "  though  I  had 
not  the  honour  of  leading ;  one  of  the  lieutenants  of  our  ship 
being  in  another  boat." 

"  Yes— I  know  all  that — but  he  was  beaten  off,  while  you 
boarded  and  did  the  work.  What  have  my  lords  commis 
sioners  done  in  the  matter  ?" 

"  All  that  is  necessary,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  sir,  I  do 
assure  you ;  having  sent  me  a  commission  the  very  next 
week.  I  only  wish  they  had  been  equally  generous  to  Mr. 
Walton,  who  received  a  severe  wound  also,  and  behaved  as 
well  as  man  could  behave." 

'•  That  would  not  be  so  wise,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  since  it 
would  be  rewarding  a  failure,"  returned  the  stranger,  coldly. 
"  Success  is  all  in  all,  in  war.  Ah  !  There  the  fellows  begin 
to  show  themselves,  Atwood." 

This  remark  drew  all  eyes,  again,  towards  the  sea,  where 
a  sight  now  presented  itself  that  was  really  worthy  of  a 
passing  notice.  The  vapour  appeared  to  have  become 
packed  into  a  mass  of  some  eighty  or  a  hundred  feet  in 
height,  leaving  a  perfectly  clear  atmosphere  above  it.  In 
the  clear  air,  were  visible  the  upper  spars  and  canvass  of  the 
entire  fleet  mentioned  by  the  stranger ;  sixteen  sail  in  all. 
There  were  the  eleven  two-deckers,  and  the  three  frigates, 
rising  in  pyramids  of  canvass,  still  fanning  in  towards  the 
anchorage,  which  in  that  roadstead  was  within  pistol-shot  of 
the  shore  ;  while  the  royals  and  upper  part  of  the  top-gallant 
sails  of  the  sloop  seemed  to  stand  on  the  surface  of  the  fog, 
like  a  monument.  After  a  moment's  pause,  Wychecombe 
5 


50  THE    TWO    ADMIRAL  9. 

discovered  even  the  head  of  the  cutter's  royal-mast,  with  the 
pennant  lazily  fluttering  ahead  of  it,  partly  concealed  in  va 
pour.  The  fog  seemed  to  settle,  instead  of  rising,  though  it 
evidently  rolled  along  the  face  of  the  waters,  putting  the 
whole  scene  in  motion.  It  was  not  long  ere  the  tops  of  the 
ships  of  the  line  became  visible,  and  then  living  beings  were 
for  the  first  time  seen  in  the  moving  masses. 

"  I  suppose  we  offer  just  such  a  sight  to  the  top-men  of 
the  ships,  as  they  offer  to  us,"  observed  the  stranger.  "  They 
must  see  this  head-land  and  flag-staff,  Mr.  Wychecombe ; 
and  there  can  be  no  danger  of  their  standing  in  too  far !" 

"  I  should  think  not,  sir ;  certainly  the  men  aloft  can  see 
the  cliffs  above  the  fog,  as  we  see  the  vessels'  spars.  Ha  ! 
Mr.  Dutton,  there  is  a  rear-admiral's  flag  flying  on  board 
the  ship  farthest  to  the  eastward." 

"  So  I  see,  sir ;  and  by  looking  at  the  third  vessel  on  the 
western  side  of  the  line,  you  will  find  a  bit  of  square  bunting 
at  the  fore,  which  will  tell  you  there  is  a  vice-admiral  be 
neath  it." 

"  Quite  true !"  exclaimed  Wychecombe,  who  was  ever 
enthusiastic  on  matters  relating  to  his  profession ;  *'  a  vice- 
admiral  of  the  red,  too ;  which  is  the  next  step  to  being  a  full 
admiral.  This  must  be  the  fleet  of  Sir  Digby  Downes  !" 

"  No,  young  gentleman,"  returned  the  stranger,  who  per 
ceived  by  the  glance  of  the  other's  eye,  that  a  question  was 
indirectly  put  to  himself;  "  it  is  the  southern  squadron  ;  and 
the  vice-admiral's  flag  you  see,  belongs  to  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes.  Admiral  Bluewater  is  on  board  the  ship  that  carries 
a  flag  at  the  mizzen." 

"  Those  two  officers  always  go  together,  Sir  Wycherly," 
added  the  young  man.  "  Whenever  we  hear  the  name  of 
Sir  Gervaise,  that  of  Bluewater  is  certain  to  accompany  it. 
Such  a  union  in  service  is  delightful  to  witness." 

"  Well  may  they  go  in  company,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  re 
turned  the  stranger,  betraying  a  little  emotion.  "  Oakes 
and  Bluewater  were  reefers  together,  under  old  Breasthook, 
in  the  Mermaid  ;  and  when  the  first  was*  made  a  lieutenant 
into  the  Squid,  the  last  followed  as  a  mate.  Oakes  was  first 
of  the  Briton,  in  her  action  with  the  Spanish  frigates,  and 
Bluewater  third.  For  that  affair  Oakes  got  a  sloop,  and  his 
friend  went  with  him  as  his  first.  The  next  year  they  ha4 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  51 

the  luck  to  capture  a  heavier  ship  thar  their  own,  when,  for 
the  first  time  in  their  service,  the  two  young  men  were  sepa 
rated  ;  Oakes  getting  a  frigate,  and  Bluewater  getting  the 
Squid.  Still  they  cruised  in  company,  until  the  senior  was 
sent  in  command  of  a  flying  squadron,  with  a  broad  pen 
nant,  when  the  junior,  who  by  this  time  was  post,  received 
his  old  messmate  on  board  his  own  frigate.  In  that  manner 
they.served  together,  down  to  the  hour  when  the  first  hoisted 
his  flag.  From  Inat  time,  the  two  old  seamen  have  never 
been  parted  ;  Bluewater  acting  as  the  admiral's  captain,  until 
he  got  the  square  bunting  himself.  The  vice-admiral  has 
never  led  the  van  of  a  fleet,  that  the  rear-admiral  did  not 
lead  the  rear-division  ;  and,  now  that  Sir  Gervaise  is  a  com- 
mander-in-chief,  you  see  his  friend,  Dick  Bluewater,  is 
cruising  in  his  company." 

While  the  stranger  was  giving  this  account  of  the  Two 
Admirals,  in  a  half-serious,  half-jocular  manner,  the  eyes 
of  his  companions  were  on  him.  He  was  a  middle-sized, 
red- faced  man,  with  an  aquiline  nose,  a  light-blue  animated 
eye,  rind  a  mouth,  which  denoted  more  of  the  habits  and  care 
of  refinement  than  either  his  dress  or  his  ordinarily  careless 
mien.  A  great  deal  is  said  about  the  aristocracy  of  the  ears, 
and  the  hands,  and  the  feet ;  but  of  all  the  features,  or  other  ap 
pliances  of  the  human  frame,  the  mouth  and  the  nose  have 
the  greatest  influence  in  producing  an  impression  of  gentility. 
This  was  peculiarly  the  case  with  the  stranger,  whose 
beak,  like  that  of  an  ancient  galley,  gave  the  promise  of  a 
stately  movement,  and  whose  beautiful  teeth  and  winning 
smile,  often  relieved  the  expression  of  a  countenance  that 
was  not  unfrequenUy  stern.  As  he  ceased  speaking,  Button 
rose,  in  a  studied  manner,  raised  his  hat  entirely  from  his 
head,  bowed  his  body  nearly  to  a  right  angle,  and  said, 

"  Unless  my  memory  is  treacherous,  I  believe  I  have  the 
honour  to  see  Rear-Admiral  Bluewater,  himself;  I  was  a  mate 
in  the  Medway,  when  he  commanded  the  Chloe ;  and  unless 
five-and-twenty  years  have  made  more  changes  than  I  think 
probable,  he  is  now  on  this  hill." 

"  Your  memory  is  a  bad  one,  Mr.  Button,  and  your  hill 
has  on  it  a  much  worse  man,  in  all  respects,  than  Admiral 
Bluewater.  They  say  that  man  and  wife,  from  living  to 
gether,  and  thinking  alike,  having  the  same  affections,  loving 


52  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

the  same  objects,  or  sometimes  hating  them,  get  in  time  to 
look  alike  ;  hey  !  Atwood  ?  It  may  be  that  I  am  growing 
like  Bluewater,  on  the  same  principle  ;  but  this  is  the 
time  I  ever  heard  the  thing  suggested.  I  am  Sir 
Oakes,  at  your  service,  sir." 

The  bow  of  Button  was  now  much  lower  than  before, 
while  young  Wychecombe  uncovered  himself,  and  Sir  Wy. 
cherly  arose  and  paid  his  compliments  cordially,  introducing 
himself,  and  offering  the  admiral  and  all  his  officers  the 
hospitality  of  the  Hall. 

"  Ay,  this  is  straight-forward  and  hearty,  and  in  the  good 
old  English  manner  !"  exclaimed  the  admiral,  when  he  had 
returned  the  salutes,  and  cordially  thanked  the  baronet. 
"  One  might  land  in  Scotland,  now,  anywhere  between  the 
Tweed  and  John  a'Groat's  house,  and  not  be  asked  so  much 
as  to  eat  an  oaten  cake  ;  hey  !  Atwood  1 — always  excepting 
the  mountain  dew." 

"  You  will  have  your  fling  at  my  poor  countrymen,  Sir 
Gervaise,  and  so  there  is  no  more  to  be  said  on  the  subject," 
returned  the  secretary,  for  such  was  the  rank  of  the  admi 
ral's  companion.  "  I  might  feel  hurt,  at  times,  did  I  not 
know  that  you  get  as  many  Scotsmen  about  you,  in  your 
own  ship,  as  you  can ;  and  that  a  fleet  is  all  the  better  in 
your  judgment,  for  having  every  other  captain  from  the  land 
o'  cakes." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  the  like  of  that,  Sir  Wycherly  ?  Be 
cause  I  stick  to  a  man  I  like,  he  accuses  me  of  having  a 
predilection  for  his  whole  country.  Here  's  Atwood,  now  ; 
he  was  my  clerk,  when  in  a  sloop  ;  and  he  has  followed  me 
to  the  Plantagenet,  and  because  I  do  not  throw  him  over 
board,  he  wishes  to  make  it  appear  half  Scotland  is  in  her 
hold." 

"  Well,  there  are  the  surgeon,  the  purser,  one  of  the 
mates,  one  of  the  marine  officers,  and  the  fourth  lieutenant, 
to  keep  me  company,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  secretary, 
smiling  like  one  accustomed  to  his  superior's  jokes,  and  who 
cared  very  little  about  them.  "  When  you  send  us  all  back 
to  Scotland,  I  'm  thinking  there  will  be  many  a  good  vacancy 
to  fill." 

"  The  Scotch  make  themselves  very  useful,  Sir  Gervaise,'1 
put  in  Sir  Wycherly,  by  way  of  smoothing  the  matter  over  J 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  53 

"  and  now  we  have  a  Brunswick  prince  on  the  throne,  we 
Englishmen  have  less  jealousy  of  them  than  formerly.  I 
am  sure  I  should  be  happy  to  see  all  the  gentlemen  men- 
tioii3d  by  Mr.  Atwood,  at  Wychecombe  Hall." 

"  There,  you  're  all  well  berthed,  while  the  fleet  lies  in 
these  roads.  Sir  Wycherly,  in  the  name  of  Scotland,  I 
thank  you. — But  what  an  extr'ornary  (for  so  admirals  pro 
nounced  the  word  a  hnndred  years  ago,)  scene  this  is,  hey ! 
Alwood  1  Many  a  time  have  I  seen  the  hulls  of  ships  when 
their  spars  were  hid  in  the  fog  ;  but  I  do  not  remember  ever 
to  have  seen  before  sixteen  sets  of  masts  and  sails,  moving 
about  on  vapour,  without  a  single  hull  to  uphold  them.  The 
tops  of  all  the  two-decked  ships  are  as  plainly  to  be  seen,  as 
if  the  air  were  without  a  particle  of  vapour,  while  all  below 
the  cat-harpings  is  hid  in  a  cloud  as  thick  as  the  smoke  of 
a  battle.  I  do  not  half  like  Bluewater's  standing  in  so  far  ; 
perhaps,  Mr.  Button,  they  cannot  see  the  cliffs,  for  I  assure 
you  we  did  not,  until  quite  close  under  them.  We  went  al 
together  by  the  lead,  the  masters  feeling  their  way  like  so 
many  blind  beggars !" 

"  We  always  keep  that  nine-pounder  loaded,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,"  returned  the  master,  "  in  order  to  warn  vessels  when 
they  are  getting  near  enough  in ;  and  if  Mr.  Wychecombe, 
who  is  younger  than  I,  will  run  to  the  house  and  light  this 
match,  I  will  prime,  and  we  may  give  'em  warning  where 
they  are,  in  less  than  a  minute." 

The  admiral  gave  a  ready  assent  to  this  proposition,  and 
the  respective  parties  immediately  set  about  putting  it  in  ex 
ecution.  Wychecombe  hastened  to  the  house  to  light  the 
match,  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  inquire  after  Mildred  ; 
while  Button  produced  a  priming-horn  from  a  sort  of  arm- 
chest,  that  stood  near  the  gun,  and  put  the  latter  in  a  condi 
tion  to  be  discharged.  The  young  man  was  absent  but  a 
minute,  and  when  all  was  ready  he  turned  towards  the  ad 
miral,  in  order  to  get  the  signal  to  proceed. 

"  Let  'em  have  it,  Mr.  Wychecombe,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise, 
smiling;  "it  will  wake  Bluewater  up;  perhaps  he  may 
favour  us  with  a  broadside,  by  way  of  retort." 

The  match  was  applied,  and  the  report  of  the  gun  suc 
ceeded.  Then  followed  a  pause  of  more  than  a  minute  ; 
when  the  fog  lifted  around  the  Csesar,  the  ship  that  wore 


54  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

a  rear -admiral's  flag,  a  flash  like  lightning  was  seen  glanc 
ing  in  the  mist,  and  then  came  the  bellowing  of  a  piece  of 
heavy  ordnance.  Almost  at  the  same  instant,  three  little 
flags  appeared  at  the  mast-head  of  the  Caesar,  for  previous 
ly  to  quitting  his  own  ship,  Sir  Gervaise  had  sent  a  mes 
sage  to  his  friend,  requesting  him  to  take  care  of  the  fleet. 
This  was  the  signal  to  anchor.  The  effect  of  all  this,  as 
seen  from  the  height,  was  exceedingly  striking.  As  yet 
not  a  single  hull  had  become  visible,  the  fog  remaining 
packed  upon  the  water,  in  a  way  to  conceal  even  the  lower 
yards  of  the  two-deckers.  All  above  was  bright,  distinct, 
and  so  near  as  almost  to  render  it  possible  to  distinguish  per 
sons.  There  everything  was  vivid,  while  a  sort  of  superna 
tural  mystery  veiled  all  beneath.  Each  ship  had  an  officer 
aloft  to  look  out  for  signals,  and  no  sooner  had  the  Ca3sar 
opened  her  three  little  flags,  which  had  long  been  suspended 
in  black  balls,  in  readiness  for  this  service,  than  the  answers 
were  seen  floating  at  the  mast-head  of  each  of  the  vessels. 
Then  commenced  a  spectacle  still  more  curious  than  that 
which  those  on  the  cliff  had  so  long  been  regarding  with  in 
terest.  Ropes  began  to  move,  and  the  sails  were  drawn  up 
in  festoons,  apparently  without  the  agency  of  hands.  Cut 
off  from  a  seeming  communication  with  the  ocean,  or  the 
hulls,  the  spars  of  the  different  ships  appeared  to  be  instinct 
with  life  ;  each  machine  playing  its  own  part  independently 
of  the  others,  but  all  having  the  same  object  in  view.  In  a 
very  few  minutes,  the  canvass  was  hauled  up,  and  the  whole 
fleet  was  swinging  to  the  anchors.  Presently  head  after 
head  was  thrown  out  of  the  fog,  the  upper  yards  were  alive 
with  men,  and  the  sails  were  handed.  Next  came  the 
squaring  of  the  yards,  though  this  was  imperfectly  done, 
and  a  good  deal  by  guess-work.  The  men  came  down, 
and  there  lay  a  noble  fleet  at  anchor,  with  nothing  visible  to 
those  on  the  cliffs,  but  their  top-hamper,  and  upper  spars. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  been  so  much  struck  and  amused 
with  a  sight  that  to  him  happened  to  be  entirely  novel,  that 
he  did  not  speak  during  the  whole  process  of  anchoring. 
Indeed  many  a  man  might  pass  his  life  at  sea,  and  never 
witness  such  a  scene ;  but  those  who  have,  know  that  it  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  striking  spectacles  connected 
with  the  wonders  of  the  great  deep. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  55 

By  this  time  the  sun  had  got  so  high,  as  tc  begin  to  stir 
the  fog,  and  streams  of  vapour  were  shooting  up  from  the  beach, 
like  smoke  rising  from  coal-pits.  The  wind  increased,  too, 
and  rolled  the  vapour  before  it,  and  in  less  than  ten  minutes, 
the  veil  was  removed  ;  ship  after  ship  coming  out  in  plain 
view,  until  the  entire  fleet  was  seen  riding  in  the  roadstead, 
in  its  naked  and  distinct  proportions. 

"  Now,  Bluewater  is  a  happy  fellow,"  exclaimed  Sir  Ger- 
vaise.  "  He  sees  his  great  enemy,  the  land,  and  knows  how 
to  deal  with  it." 

"  I  thought  the  French  were  the  great  and  natural  enemies 
of  every  British  sailor,"  observed  Sir  Wycherly,  simply,  but 
quite  to  the  point. 

"Hum — there's  truth  in  that  too.  But  the  land  is  an 
enemy  to  be  feared,  while  the  Frenchman  is  not — hey !  At- 
wood  ?" 

It  was  indeed  a  goodly  sight  to  view  the  fine  fleet  that 
now  lay  anchored  beneath  the  cliffs  of  Wychecombe.  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes  was,  in  that  period,  considered  a  successful 
naval  commander,  and  was  a  favourite  both  at  the  admi 
ralty  and  with  the  nation.  His  popularity  extended  to  the 
most  distant  colonies  of  England,  in  nearly  all  of  which  he 
had  served  with  zeal  and  credit.  But  we  are  not  writing  of 
an  age  of  nautical  wonders,  like  that  which  succeeded,  at 
the  close  of  the  century.  The  French  and  Dutch,  and  even 
the  Spaniards,  were  then  all  formidable  as  naval  powers  ; 
for  revolutions  and  changes  had  not  destroyed  their  mari 
time  corps,  nor  had  the  consequent  naval  ascendency  of 
England  annihilated  their  navigation  ;  the  two  great  causes 
of  the  subsequent  apparent  invincibility  of  the  latter  power. 
Battles  at  sea,  in  that  day,  were  warmly  contested,  and  were 
frequently  fruitless;  more  especially  when  fleets  were  brought 
in  opposition.  The  single  combats  were  usually  more  de 
cisive,  though  the  absolute  success  of  the  British  flag,  was 
far  from  being  as  much  a  matter  of  course  as  it  subsequently 
became.  In  a  word,  the  science  of  naval  warfare  had  not 
made  those  great  strides,  which  marked  the  career  of  Eng 
land  in  the  end,  nor  had  it  retrograded  among  her  enemies, 
to  the  point  which  appears  to  have  rendered  their  defeat 
nearly  certain.  Still  Sir  Gervaise  was  a  successful  officer  ; 
having  captured  several  single  ships,  in  bloody  encounters 


56 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS, 


and  having  actually  led  fleets  with  credit,  in  four  or  five  of 
the  great  battles  of  the  times ;  besides  being  second  and 
third  in  command,  on  various  similar  occasions.  His  own 
ship  was  certain  to  be  engaged,  let  what  would  happen  to 
the  others.  Equally  as  captains  and  as  flag-officers,  the 
nation  had  become  familiar  with  the  names  of  Oakes  and 
Bluewater,  as  men  ever  to  be  found  sustaining  each  other  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight.  It  may  be  well  to  add  here,  that 
both  these  favourite  seamen  were  men  of  family,  or  at  least 
what  was  considered  men  of  family  among  the  mere  gentry 
of  England  ;  Sir  Gervaise  being  a  baronet  by  inheritance, 
while  his  friend  actually  belonged  to  one  of  those  naval  lines 
which  furnishes  admirals  for  generations  ;  his  father  having 
worn  a  white  flag  at  the  main ;  and  his  grandfather  having 
been  actually  ennobled  for  his  services,  dying  vice-admira 
of  England.  These  fortuitous  circumstances  perhaps  rea 
dered  both  so  much  the  greater  favourites  at  court. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

-  u  All  with  you  ;  except  three 
On  duty,  and  o»r  leader  Israel, 
Who  is  expected  momently." 

MARINO 


As  his  fleet  was  safely  anchored,  and  that  too,  in  beauti 
ful  order,  in  spite  of  the  fog,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  showed  a 
disposition  to  pursue  what  are  termed  ulterior  views. 

"  This  has  been  a  fine  sight  —  certainly  a  very  fine  sight; 
such  as  an  old  seaman  loves  ;  but  there  must  be  an  end  to 
it,"  he  said.  "  You  will  excuse  me,  Sir  Wycherly,  but  the 
movements  of  a  fleet  always  have  interest  in  my  eyes,  and 
it  is  seldom  that  I  get  such  a  bircPs-eye  view  of  those  of  my 
own  ;  no  wonder  if  has  made  me  a  somewhat  unreflecting 
intruder." 

"  Make  no  apologies,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  beg  of  you  ;  for  none 
are  needed,  on  any  account.  Though  this  head-land  does 


THE    TWO     ADMIRAL  8.  57 

belong  to  the  Wychecombe  property,  it  is  fairly  leased  to 
the  crown,  anj  none  have  a  better  right  to  occupy  it  than 
His  Majesty's  servants.  The  Hall  is  a  little  more  private, 
it  is  true,  but  even  that  has  no  door  that  will  close  upon  our 
gallant  naval  defenders.  It  is  but  a  short  walk,  and  nothing 
will  make  me  happier  than  to  show  you  the  way  to  my  poor 
dwelling,  and  to  see  you  as  much  at  home  under  its  roof,  as 
you  could  be  in  the  cabin  of  the  Plantagenet." 

"  If  anything  could  make  me  as  much  at  home  in  a 
house  as  in  a  ship,  it  would  be  so  hearty  a  welcome ;  and  I 
intend  to  accept  your  hospitality  in  the  very  spirit  in  which 
it  is  offered.  Atwood  and  I  have  landed  to  send  off  some 
important  despatches  to  the  First  Lord,  and  we  will  thank 
you  for  putting  us  in  the  way  of  doing  it,  in  the  safest 
and  most  expeditious  manner.  Curiosity  and  surprise  have 
already  occasioned  the  loss  of  half  an  hour;  while  a  soldier, 
or  a  sailor,  should  never  lose  half  a  minute." 

"  Is  a  courier  who  knows  the  country  well,  needed,  Sir 
Gervaise  ?"  the  lieutenant  demanded,  modestly,  though  with 
an  interest  that  showed  he  was  influenced  only  by  zeal  for 
the  service. 

The  admiral  looked  at  him,  intently,  for  a  moment,  and 
seemed  pleased  with  the  hint  implied  in  the  question. 

"  Can  you  ride  ?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling.  "  I  could 
have  brought  half-a-dozen  youngsters  ashore  with  me ;  but, 
besides  the  doubts  about  getting  a  horse — a  chaise  I  take  it 
is  out  of  the  question  here — I  was  afraid  the  lads  might  dis 
grace  themselves  on  horseback." 

"  This  must  be  said  in  pleasantry,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned 
Wychecombe  ;  "  he  would  be  a  strange  Virginian  at  least, 
who  does  not  know  how  to  ride  !" 

"  And  a  strange  Englishman,  too,  Bluewater  would  say ; 
and  yet  I  never  see  the  fellow  straddle  a  horse  that  I  do  not 
wish  it  were  a  studding-sail-boom  run  out  to  leeward !  We 
sailors  fancy  we  ride,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  but  it  is  some  such 
fancy  as  a  marine  has  for  the  fore-topmast-cross-trees.  Can 
a  horse  be  had,  to  go  as  far  as  the  nearest  post-office  that 
sends  off  a  daily  mail  ?" 

"  That  can  it,  Sir  Gervaise,"  put  in  Sir  Wycherly. 
"  Here  is  Dick  mounted  on  as  good  a  hunter  as  is  to  be 
found  in  England ;  and  I  '11  answer  for  my  young  name- 


58  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

sake's  willingness  to  put  the  animal's  mettle  to  the  proof, 
Our  little  mail  has  just  left  Wychecombe  for  the  next  twenty, 
four  hours,  but,  by  pushing  the  beast,  there  will  be  time  to 
reach  the  high  road  in  season  for  the  great  London  mail, 
which  passes  the  nearest  market-town  at  noon.  It  is  but  a 
gallop  of  ten  miles  and  back,  and  that  I  '11  answer  for  Mr. 
Wychecombe's  ability  to  do,  and  to  join  us  at  dinner  by 
four." 

Young  Wychecombe  expressing  his  readiness  to  perform 
all  this,  and  even  more  at  need,  the  arrangement  was  soon 
made.  Dick  was  dismounted,  the  lieutenant  got  his  des 
patches  and  his  instructions,  took  his  leave,  and  had  gal 
loped  out  of  sight,  in  the  next  five  minutes.  The  admiral 
then  declared  himself  at  liberty  for  the  day,  accepting  the 
invitation  of  Sir  Wycherly  to  breakfast  and  dine  at  the 
Hall,  in  the  same  spirit  of  frankness  as  that  in  which  it 
had  been  given.  Sir  Wycherly  was  so  spirited  as  to  refuse 
the  aid  of  his  pony,  but  insisted  on  walking  through  the  vil 
lage  and  park  to  his  dwelling,  though  the  distance  was  more 
than  a  mile.  Just  as  they  were  quitting  the  signal-station, 
the  old  man  took  the  admiral  aside,  and  in  an  earnest,  but 
respectful  manner,  disburthened  his  mind  to  the  following 
effect. 

"  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  said,  "  I  am  no  sailor,  as  you  know, 
and  least  of  all  do  I  bear  His  Majesty's  commission  in  the 
navy,  though  I  am  in  the  county  commission  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace;  so,  if  I  make  any  little  mistake  you  will  have 
the  goodness  to  overlook  it,  for  I  know  that  the  etiquette  of 
the  quarter-deck  is  a  very  serious  matter,  and  is  not  to  be 
trifled  with  ;  —  but  here  is  Button,  as  good  a  fellow  in  his 
way  as  lives — his  father  was  a  sort  of  a  gentleman  too,  hav 
ing  been  the  attorney  of  the  neighbourhood,  and  the  old  man 
was  accustomed  to  dine  with  me  forty  years  ago — " 

"  I  believe  I  understand  you,  Sir  Wycherly,"  interrupted 
the  admiral ;  "  and  I  thank  you  for  the  attention  you  wish 
to  pay  my  prejudices  ;  but,  you  are  master  of  Wychecombe, 
and  I  should  feel  myself  a  troublesome  intruder,  indeed,  did 
you  not  ask  whom  you  please  to  dine  at  your  own  table." 

"  That 's  not  quite  it,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  you  have  not 
gone  far  wide  of  the  mark.  Button  is  only  a  master,  you 
know ;  and  it  seems  that  a  master  on  board  ship  is  a  very 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  59 

different  thing  from  a  master  on  shore ;  so  Button,  himself, 
has  often  told  me." 

"  Ay,  Dutton  is  right  enough  as  regards  a  king's  ship, 
though  the  two  offices  are  pretty  much  the  same,  when  other 
craft  are  alluded  to.  But,  my  dear  Sir  Wycherly,  an  ad 
miral  is  not  disgraced  by  keeping  company  with  a  boat 
swain,  if  the  latter  is  an  honest  man.  It  is  true  we  have 
our  customs,  and  what  we  call  our  quarter-deck  and  forward 
officers ;  which  is  court  end  and  city,  on  board  ship ;  but  a 
master  belongs  to  the  first,  and  the  master  of  the  Plantage- 
net,  Sandy  McYarn,  dines  with  me  once  a  month,  as  regu 
larly  as  he  enters  a  new  word  at  the  top  of  his  log-book.  I 
beg,  therefore,  you  will  extend  your  hospitality  to  whom  you 
please — Or — "  the  admiral  hesitated,  as  he  cast  a  good-na 
tured  glance  at  the  master,  who  stood  still  uncovered,  wait 
ing  for  his  superior  to  move  away  ;  "  or,  perhaps,  Sir  Wy 
cherly,  you  would  permit  me  to  ask  a  friend  to  make  one  of 
our  party." 

"That's  just  it,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  the  kind-hearted 
baronet ;  "  and  Dutton  will  be  one  of  the  happiest  fellows  in 
Devonshire.  I  wish  we  could  have  Mrs.  Dutton  and  Milly, 
and  then  the  table  would  look  what  my  poor  brother  James 
—  St.  James  I  used  to  call  him  —  what  the  Rev.  James 
Wychecombe  was  accustomed  to  term,  mathematical.  He 
said  a  table  should  have  all  its  sides  and  angles  duly  filled. 
James  was  a  most  agreeable  companion,  Sir  Gervaise,  and, 
in  divinity,  he  would  not  have  turned  his  back  on  one  of  the 
apostles,  I  do  verily  believe  !" 

The  admiral  bowed,  and  turning  to  the  master,  he  invited 
him  to  be  of  the  party  at  the  Hall,  in  the  manner  which  one 
long  accustomed  to  render  his  civilities  agreeable  by  a  sort 
of  professional  off-handed  way,  well  knew  how  to  assume. 

"  Sir  Wycherly  has  insisted  that  I  shall  consider  his  table 
as  set  in  my  own  cabin,"  he  continued  ;  "  and  I  know  of  no 
belter  manner  of  proving  my  gratitude,  than  by  taking  him 
at  his  word,  and  filling  it  with  guests  that  will  be  agreeable 
to  us  both.  I  believe  there  is  a  Mrs.  Dutton,  and  a  Miss — 


"Milly,"   put  in   the  baronet,  eagerly;  "Miss  Mildred 
Dutton — the  daughter  of  our  good  friend  Dutton,  here,  and  a 


00  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

young  Jncly  who  would  do  credit  to  the  gayest  drawing- 
room  in  London." 

*•  You  perceive,  sir,  that  our  kind  host  anticipates  the 
wishes  of  an  old  bachelor,  as  it  might  be  by  instinct,  and 
desires  the  company  of  the  ladies,  also.  Miss  Mildred  will, 
at  least,  have  two  young  men  to  do  homage  to  her  beauty, 
and  three  old  ones  to  sigh  in  the  distance — hey  I  Atwood  ?" 

"  Mildred,  as  Sir  Wycherly  knows,  sir,  has  been  a  little 
disturbed  this  morning,"  returned  Button,  putting  on  his 
best  manner  for  the  occasion  ;  "  but,  I  feel  no  doubt,  will 
be  too  grateful  for  this  honour,  not  to  exert  herself  to  make 
a  suitable  return.  As  for  my  wife,  gentlemen — " 

"  And  what  is  to  prevent  Mrs.  Dutton  from  being  one  of 
the  party,"  interrupted  Sir  Wycherly,  as  he  observed  the 
husband  to  hesitate ;  "  she  sometimes  favours  me  with  her 
company." 

"  I  rather  think  she  will  to-day,  Sir  Wycherly,  if  Mildred 
is  well  enough  to  go ;  the  good  woman  seldom  lets  her 
daughter  stray  far  from  her  apron-strings.  She  keeps  her, 
as  I  tell  her,  within  the  sweep  of  her  own  hawse,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise." 

"  So  much  the  wiser  she,  Master  Dutton,"  returned  the 
admiral,  pointedly.  "  The  best  pilot  for  a  young  woman  is 
a  good  mother ;  and  now  you  have  a  fleet  in  your  road 
stead,  I  need  not  tell  a  seaman  of  your  experience  that  you 
are  on  pilot-ground  ; — hey  !  Atwood  ?" 

Here  the  parties  separated,  Dutton  remaining  uncovered 
until  his  superior  had  turned  the  corner  of  his  little  cottage, 
and  was  fairly  out  of  sight.  Then  the  master  entered  his 
dwelling  to  prepare  his  wife  and  daughter  for  the  honours 
they  had  in  perspective.  Before  he  executed  this  duty,  how 
ever,  the  unfortunate  man  opened  what  he  called  a  locker — 
what  a  housewife  would  term  a  cupboard — and  fortified  his 
nerves  with  a  strong  draught  of  pure  Nantes ;  a  liquor  that 
no  hostilities,  custom-house  duties,  or  national  antipathies, 
has  ever  been  able  to  bring  into  general  disrepute  in  the 
British  Islands.  In  the  mean  time  the  party  of  the  two  baro 
nets  pursued  its  way  towards  the  Hall. 

The  village,  or  hamlet  of  Wychecombe,  lay  about  half 
way  between  the  station  and  the  residence  of  the  lord  of  the 
manor.  It  was  an  exceedingly  rural  and  retired  collection 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  61 

of  mean  houses,  possessing  neither  physician,  apothecary 
nor  attorney,  to  give  it  importance.  A  small  inn,  two  or 
three  shops  of  the  humblest  kind,  and  some  twenty  cottages 
of  labourers  and  mechanics,  composed  the  place,  which,  at 
that  early  day,  had  not  even  a  chapel,  or  a  conventicle ; 
dissent  not  having  made  much  progress  then  in  England. 
The  parish  church,  one  of  the  old  edifices  of  the  time  of 
the  Henrys,  stood  quite  alone,  in  a  field,  more  than  a  mile 
from  the  place;  and  the  vicarage,  a  respectable  abode, 
was  just  on  the  edge  of  the  park,  fully  half  a  mile  more  dis 
tant.  In  short,  Wychecombe  was  one  of  those  places  which 
was  so  far  on  the  decline,  that  few  or  no  traces  of  any  little 
importance  it  may  have  once  possessed,  were  any  longer  to 
be  discovered  ;  and  it  had  sunk  entirely  into  a  hamlet  that 
owed  its  allowed  claims  to  be  marked  on  the  maps,  and  to 
be  noted  in  the  gazetteers,  altogether  to  its  antiquity,  and 
the  name  it  had  given  to  one  of  the  oldest  knightly  families 
in  England. 

No  wonder  then,  that  the  arrival  of  a  fleet  under  the  head, 
produced  a  great  excitement  in  the  little  village.  The  an 
chorage  was  excellent,  so  far  as  the  bottom  was  concerned, 
but  it  could  scarcely  be  called  a  roadstead  in  any  other  point 
of  view,  since  there  was  shelter  against  no  wind  but  that 
which  blew  directly  off  shore,  which  happened  to  be  a  wind 
that  did  not  prevail  in  that  part  of  the  island.  Occasionally, 
a  small  cruiser  would  come-to,  in  the  offing,  and  a  few  fri 
gates  had  lain  at  single  anchors  in  the  roads,  for  a  tide  or 
so,  in  waiting  for  a  change  of  weather  ;  but  this  was  the  first 
fleet  that  had  been  known  to  moor  under  the  cliffs  within 
the  memory  of  man.  The  fog  had  prevented  the  honest  vil 
lagers  from  ascertaining  the  unexpected  honour  that  had 
been  done  them,  until  the  reports  of  the  two  guns  reached 
their  ears,  when  the  important  intelligence  spread  with  due 
rapidity  over  the  entire  adjacent  country.  Although  Wyche 
combe  did  not  lie  in  actual  view  of  the  sea,  by  the  time  the 
party  of  Sir  Wycherly  entered  the  hamlet,  its  liftle  street 
was  already  crowded  with  visiters  from  the  fleet ;  every  ves 
sel  having  sent  at  least  one  boat  ashore,  and  many  of  them 
some  three  or  four.  Captain's  and  gun-room  stewards,  mid 
shipmen's  foragers,  loblolly  boys,  and  other  similar  harpies, 
were  out  in  scores ;  for  this  was  a  part  of  the  world  in  which 
6 


68  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

bum-boats  were  unknown ;  and  if  the  mountain  would  not 
come  to  Mahomet,  Mahomet  must  fain  go  to  the  mountain. 
Half  an  hour  had  sufficed  to  exhaust  all  the  unsophisticated 
simplicity  of  the  hamlet ;  and  milk,  eggs,  fresh  butter,  soft- 
tommy,  vegetables,  and  such  fruits  as  were  ripe,  had  already 
risen  quite  one  hundred  per  cent,  in  the  market. 

Sir  Gervaise  had  called  his  force  the  southern  squadron, 
from  the  circumstance  of  its  having  been  cruising  in  the  Bay 
of  Biscay,  for  the  last  six  months.  This  was  a  wild  win 
ter-station,  the  danger  from  the  elements  greatly  surpassing 
any  that  could  well  be  anticipated  from  the  enemy.  The 
duty  notwithstanding  had  been  well  and  closely  performed  ; 
several  West  India,  and  one  valuable  East  India  convoy 
having  been  effectually  protected,  as  well  as  a  few  straggling 
frigates  of  the  enemy  picked  up ;  but  the  service  had  been 
excessively  laborious  to  all  engaged  in  it,  and  replete  with 
privations.  Most  of  those  who  now  landed,  had  not  trod 
terra  firma  for  half  a  year,  and  it  was  not  wonderful  that  all 
the  officers  whose  duties  did  not  confine  them  to  the  vessels, 
gladly  seized  the  occasion  to  feast  their  senses  with  the 
verdure  and  odours  of  their  native  island.  Quite  a  hun 
dred  guests  of  this  character  were  also  pouring  into  the  street 
of  Wychecombe,  or  spreading  themselves  among  the  sur 
rounding  farm-houses  ;  flirting  with  the  awkward  and  blush 
ing  girls,  and  keeping  an  eye  at  the  same  time  to  the  main 
chance  of  the  mess-table. 

"  Our  boys  have  already  found  out  your  village,  Sir  Wy. 
cherly,  in  spite  of  the  fog,"  the  vice-admiral  remarked,  good- 
humouredly,  as  he  cast  his  eyes  around  at  the  movement  of 
the  street ;  "  and  the  locusts  of  Egypt  will  not  come  nearer 
to  breeding  a  famine.  One  would  think  there  was  a  great 
dinner  in  petto,  in  every  cabin  of  the  fleet,  by  the  number 
of*  the  captain's  stewards  that  are  ashore,  hey  !  Atwood  ?  I 
have  seen  nine  of  the  harpies,  myself,  and  the  other  seven 
can't  be  far  off." 

"  Here  is  Galley  go,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  the  secretary, 
smiling ;  "  though  he  can  scarcely  be  called  a  captain's 
steward,  having  the  honour  to  serve  a  vice-admiral  and  a 
commander-in-chief." 

"  Ay,  but  we  feed  the  whole  fleet  at  times,  and  have  some 
excuse  for  being  a  little  exacting — harkee,  Galleygo — get  a 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  63 

horse-cart,  and  push  off  at  once,  four  or  five  miles  further 
into  the  country ;  you  might  as  well  expect  to  find  real 
pearls  in  fishes'  eyes,  as  hope  to  pick  up  anything  nice 
among  so  many  gun-room  and  cock-pit  boys.  I  dine  ashore 
to-day,  but  Captain  Greenly  is  fond  of  mutton-chops,  you  '11 
remember." 

This  was  said  kindly,  and  in  the  manner  of  a  man  accus 
tomed  to  treat  his  domestics  with  the  familiarity  of  humble 
friends.  Galleygo  was  as  unpromising  a  looking  butler  as 
any  gentleman  ashore  would  be  at  all  likely  to  tolerate ;  but 
he  had  been  with  his  present  master,  and  in  his  present  ca 
pacity,  ever  since  the  latter  had  commanded  a  sloop  of  war. 
All  his  youth  had  been  passed  as  a  top-man,  and  he  was 
really  a  prime  seaman ;  but  accident  having  temporarily 
placed  him  in  his  present  station,  Captain  Oakes  was  so 
much  pleased  with  his  attention  to  his  duty,  and  particularly 
with  his  order,  that  he  ever  afterwards  retained  him  in  his 
cabin,  notwithstanding  the  strong  desire  the  honest  fellow 
himself  had  felt  to  remain  aloft.  Time  and  familiarity,  at 
length  reconciled  the  steward  to  his  station,  though  he  did 
not  formally  accept  it,  until  a  clear  agreement  had  been 
made  that  he  was  not  to  be  considered  an  idler  on  any  occa 
sion  that  called  for  the  services  of  the  best  men.  In  this 
manner  David,  for  such  was  his  Christian  name,  had  be 
come  a  sort  of  nondescript  on  board  of  a  man-of-war ;  being 
foremost  in  all  the  cuttings  out,  a  captain  of  a  gun,  and  was 
frequently  seen  on  a  yard  in  moments  of  difficulty,  just  to 
keep  his  hand  in,  as  he  expressed  it,  while  he  descended  to 
the  duties  of  the  cabin  in  peaceable  times  and  good  weather. 
Near  thirty  years  had  he  thus  been  half-steward,  half-sea 
man  when  afloat,  while  on  land  he  was  rather  a  counsellor 
and  minister  of  the  closet,  than  a  servant ;  for  out  of  a  ship  he 
was  utterly  useless,  though  he  never  left  his  master  for  a 
week  at  a  time,  ashore  or  afloat.  The  name  of  Galleygo 
was  a  sobriquet  conferred  by  his  brother  top-men,  but  had 
been  so  generally  used,  that  for  the  last  twenty  years  most 
of  his  shipmates  believed  it  to  be  his  patronymic.  When 
this  compound  of  cabin  and  forecastle  received  the  order 
just  related,  he  touched  the  lock  of  hair  on  his  forehead,  a 
ceremony  he  always  used  before  he  spoke  to  Sir  Gervaise, 


64  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

the  hat  being  removed  at  some  three  or  four  yards'  distance, 
and  made  his  customary  answer  of — 

"  Ay-ay-sir — your  honour  has  been  a  young  gentleman 
yourself,  and  knows  what  a  young  gentleman's  stomach  gets 
to  be,  a'ter  a  six  months'  fast  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  ;  and  o 
young  gentleman's  boy's  stomach,  too.  I  always  thinks 
there 's  but  a  small  chance  for  us,  sir,  when  I  sees  six  or 
eight  of  them  light  cruisers  in  my  neighbourhood.  They  're 
som'mat  like  the  sloops  and  cutters  of  a  fleet,  which  picks 
up  all  the  prizes." 

"  Quite  true,  Master  Galleygo ;  but  if  the  light  cruisers 
get  the  prizes,  you  should  recollect  that  the  admiral  always 
has  his  share  of  the  prize-money." 

"  Yes  sir,  I  knows  we  has  our  share,  but  that 's  accordin' 
to  law,  and  because  the  commanders  of  the  light  craft  can' 
help  it.  Let  'em  once  get  the  law  on  their  side,  and  not  a 
ha'pence  would  bless  our  pockets  !  No,  sir,  what  we  gets, 
we  gets  by  the  law ;  and  as  there  is  no  law  to  fetch  up  young 
gentlemen  or  their  boys,  that  pays  as  they  goes,  we  never 
gets  anything  they  or  their  boys  puts  hands  on." 

"  I  dare  say  you  are  right,  David,  as  you  always  are.  It 
wouldn't  be  a  bad  thing  to  have  an  Act  of  Parliament  to  give 
an  admiral  his  twentieth  in  the  reefers'  foragings.  The  old 
fellows  would  sometimes  get  back  some  of  their  own  poultry 
and  fruit  in  that  way,  hey !  Atwood  ?" 

The  secretary  smiled  his  assent,  and  then  Sir  Gervaise 
apologized  to  his  host,  repeated  the  order  to  the  steward,  and 
the  party  proceeded. 

"  This  fellow  of  mine,  Sir  Wycherly,  is  no  respecter  of 
persons,  beyond  the  etiquette  of  a  man-of-war,"  the  admiral 
continued,  by  way  of  further  excuse.  "  I  believe  His 
Majesty  himself  would  be  favoured  with  an  essay  on  some 
part  of  the  economy  of  the  cabin,  were  Galleygo  to  get  an 
opportunity  of  speaking  his  mind  to  him.  Nor  is  the  fool 
without  his  expectations  of  some  day  enjoying  this  privilege  ; 
for  the  last  time  I  went  to  court,  I  found  honest  David  rig 
ged,  from  stem  to  stern,  in  a  full  suit  of  claret  and  steel, 
under  the  idea  that  he  was  '  to  sail  in  company  with  me,1 
as  he  called  it,  '  with  or  without  signal !'  " 

"  There  was  nothing  surprising  in  that,  Sir  Gervaise," 
observed  the  secretary.  "  Galleygo  has  sailed  in  company 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 


63 


with  you  so  long,  and  to  so  many  strange  lands ;  has  been 
through  so  many  dangers  at  your  side,  and  has  got  so  com 
pletely  to  consider  himself  as  part  of  the  family,  that  it  was 
the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world  he  should  expect  to  go 
to  court  with  you." 

"  True  enough.  The  fellow  would  face  the  devil,  at  my 
side,  and  I  don't  see  why  he  should  hesitate  to  face  the  king. 
I  sometimes  call  him  Lady  Oakes,  Sir  Wycherly,  for  he 
appears  to  think  he  has  a  right  of  dower,  or  some  other  law 
yer-like  claim  on  my  estate  ;  and  as  for  the  fleet,  he  always 
speaks  of  that,  as  if  we  commanded  it  in  common.  I  wonder 
how  Bluewater  tolerates  the  blackguard ;  for  he  never  scru 
ples  to  allude  to  him  as  under  our  orders !  If  anything 
should  befal  me,  Dick  and  David  would  have  a  civil  war  for 
the  succession,  hey  !  Atwood  ?" 

"  I  think  military  subordination  would  bring  Galleygo  to 
his  senses,  Sir  Gervaise,  should  such  an  unfortunate  acci 
dent  occur — which  Heaven  avert  for  many  years  to  come ! 
There  is  Admiral  Bluewater  coming  up  the  street,  at  this 
very  moment,  sir." 

At  this  sudden  announcement,  the  whole  party  turned  to 
look  in  the  direction  intimated  by  the  secretary.  It  was  by 
this  time  at  one  end  of  the  short  street,  and  all  saw  a  man 
just  entering  the  other,  who,  in  his  walk,  air,  attire,  and 
manner,  formed  a  striking  contrast  to  the  active,  merry, 
bustling,  youthful  young  sailors  who  thronged  the  hamlet. 
In  person,  Admiral  Bluewater  was  exceedingly  tall  and  ex 
ceedingly  thin.  Like  most  seamen  who  have  that  physical 
formation,  he  stooped  ;  a  circumstance  that  gave  his  years 
a  greater  apparent  command  over  his  frame,  than  they  pos 
sessed  in  reality.  While  this  bend  in  his  figure  deprived  it, 
in  a  great  measure,  of  the  sturdy  martial  air  that  his  supe 
rior  presented  to  the  observer,  it  lent  to  his  carriage  a  quiet 
and  dignity  that  it  might  otherwise  have  wanted.  Certainly, 
were  this  officer  attired  like  an  ordinary  civilian,  no  one 
would  have  taken  him  for  one  of  England's  bravest  and 
most  efficient  sea-captains  ;  he  would  have  passed  rather  as 
some  thoughtful,  well-educated,  and  refined  gentleman,  of 
retired  habits,  diffident  of  himself,  and  a  stranger  to  ambi 
tion.  He  wore  an  undress  rear-admiral's  uniform,  as  a 
matter  of  course ;  but  he  wore  it  carelessly,  as  if  from  a 
6* 


66  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

sense  of  duty  only ;  or  conscious  that  no  arrangement  could 
give  him  a  military  air.  Still  all  about  his  person  was  fault 
lessly  neat,  and  perfectly  respectable.  In  a  word,  ra  one 
but  a  man  accustomed  to  the  sea,  were  it  not  for  his  uniform, 
would  suspect  the  rear-admiral  of  being  a  sailor ;  and  even 
the  seaman  himself  might  be  often  puzzled  to  detect  any 
other  signs  of  the  profession  about  him,  than  were  to  be 
found  in  a  face,  which,  fair,  gentlemanly,  handsome,  and 
even  courtly  as  it  was,  in  expression  and  outline,  wore  the 
tint  that  exposure  invariably  stamps  on  the  mariner's  coun 
tenance.  Here,  however,  his  nnseaman-like  character 
ceased.  Admiral  Oakes  had  often  declared  that  "  Dick 
Bluewater  knew  more  about  a  ship  than  any  man  in  Eng 
land  ;"  and  as  for  a  fleet,  his  mode  of  manoeuvring  one  had 
got  to  be  standard  in  the  service. 

As  soon  as  Sir  Gervaise  recognised  his  friend,  he  expressed 
a  wish  to  wait  for  him,  which  was  courteously  converted  by 
Sir  Wycherly  into  a  proposition  to  return  and  meet  him. 
So  abstracted  was  Admiral  Bluewater,  however,  that  he  did 
not  see  the  party  that  was  approaching  him,  until  he  was 
fairly  accosted  by  Sir  Gervaise,  who  led  the  advance  by  a 
few  yards. 

"  Good-day  to  you,  Bluewater,"  commenced  the  latter,  in 
his  familiar,  off-hand  way  ;  "  I  'm  glad  you  have  torn  your., 
self  away  from  your  ship  ;  though  I  must  say  the  manner 
in  which  you  came-to,  in  that  fog,  was  more  like  instinct, 
than  anything  human !  I  determined  to  tell  you  as  much, 
the  moment  we  met ;  for  I  don't  think  there  is  a  ship,  half 
her  length  out  of  mathematical  order,  notwithstanding  the 
tide  runs,  here,  like  a  race-horse." 

"  That  is  owing  to  your  captains,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned 
the  other,  observing  the  respect  of  manner,  that  the  inferior 
never  loses  with  his  superior,  on  service,  and  in  a  navy  ;  let 
their  relative  rank  and  intimacy  be  what  they  may  on  all 
other  occasions  ;  "  good  captains  make  handy  ships.  Our 
gentlemen  have  now  been  together  so  long,  that  they  un 
derstand  each  other's  movements ;  and  every  vessel  in  the 
fleet  has  her  character  as  well  as  her  commander !" 

"  Very  true,  Admiral  Bluewater,  and  yet  there  is  not  an- 
othej  officer  in  His  Majesty's  service,  that  could  have  brought 
a,  fleet  to  anchor,  in  so  much  order  and  in  such  a  fog ,  and 


THETWOADMIRALS.  67 

I  ask  your  leave,  sir,  most  particularly  to  thank  you  for  the 
lesson  you  have  given,  not  only  to  the  captains,  but  to  the 
commander-in-chief.  I  presume  I  may  admire  that  which  I 
cannot  exactly  imitate." 

The  rear-admiral  merely  smiled  and  touched  his  hat  in 
acknowledgment  of  the  compliment,  but  he  made  no  direct 
answer  in  words.  By  this  time  Sir  Wycherly  and  the  others 
had  approached,  and  the  customary  introductions  took  place. 
Sir  Wycherly  now  pressed  his  new  acquaintance  to  join  his 
guests,  with  so  much  heartiness,  that  there  was  no  such 
thing  as  refusing. 

"  Since  you  and  Sir  Gervaise  both  insist  on  it  so  earnest 
ly,  Sir  Wycherly,"  returned  the  rear-admiral,  "  I  must  con 
sent  ;  but  as  it  is  contrary  to  our  practice,  when  on  foreign 
service — and  I  call  this  roadstead  a  foreign  station,  as  to  any 
thing  we  know  about  it — as  it  is  contrary  to  our  practice  for 
both  flag-officers  to  sleep  out  of  the  fleet,  I  shall  claim  the 
privilege  to  be  allowed  to  go  off  to  my  ship  before  midnight. 
I  think  the  weather  looks  settled,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  we  may 
trust  that  many  hours,  without  apprehension." 

"  Pooh — pooh — Bluewater,  you  are  always  fancying  the 
ships  in  a  gale,  and  clawing  off  a  lee-shore.  Put  your  heart 
at  rest,  and  let  us  go  and  take  a  comfortable  dinner  with  Sir 
Wycherly,  who  has  a  London  paper,  I  dare  to  say,  that  may 
let  us  into  some  of  the  secrets  of  state.  Are  there  any  tidings 
from  our  people  in  Flanders  ?" 

"  Things  remain  pretty  much  as  they  have  been,"  re 
turned  Sir  Wycherly,  "  since  that  last  terrible  affair,  in 
which  the  Duke  got  the  better  of  the  French  at — I  never 
can  remember  an  outlandish  name  ;  but  it  sounds  something 
like  a  Christian  baptism.  If  my  poor  brother,  St.  James, 
were  living,  now,  he  could  tell  us  all  about  it." 

"  Christian  baptism  !  That 's  an  odd  allusion  for  a  field 
of  battle.  The  armies  can't  have  got  to  Jerusalem  ;  hey ! 
Atwood?" 

"  I  rather  think,  Sir  Gervaise,"  the  secretary  coolly  remark 
ed,  "  that  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  refers  to  the  battle  that 
took  place  last  spring — it  was  fought  at  Font-something ; 
and  a  font  certainly  has  something  to  do  with  Christian  bap 
tism." 

«  That's  it— that 's  it,"  cried  Sir  Wycherly,  with  some 


68  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

eagerness ;  "  Fontenoi  was  the  name  of  the  place,  where  the 
Duke  would  have  carried  all  before  him,  and  brought  Mar 
shal  Saxe,  and  all  his  frog-eaters  prisoners  to  England,  had 
our  Dutch  and  German  allies  behaved  better  than  they  did. 
So  it  is  with  poor  old  England,  gentlemen  ;  whatever  she 
gains,  her  allies  always  lose  for  her — the  Germans,  or  the 
colonists,  are  constantly  getting  us  into  trouble  !" 

Both  Sir  Gervaise  and  his  friend  were  practical  men,  and 
well  knew  that  they  never  fought  the  Dutch  or  the  French, 
without  meeting  with  something  that  was  pretty  nearly  their 
match.  They  had  no  faith  in  general  national  superiority. 
The  courts-martial  that  so  often  succeeded  general  actions, 
had  taught  them  that  there  were  all  degrees  of  spirit,  as  well 
as  all  degrees  of  a  want  of  spirit ;  and  they  knew  too  much, 
to  be  the  dupes  of  flourishes  of  the  pen,  or  of  vapid  declama 
tion  at  dinner-speeches,  and  in  the  House  of  Commons. 
Men,  well  led  and  commanded,  they  had  ascertained  by  ex 
perience,  were  worth  twice  as  much  as  the  same  men  when 
ill  led  and  ill  commanded ;  and  they  were  not  to  be  told 
that  the  moral  tone  of  an  army  or  a  fleet,  from  which  all  its 
success  was  derived,  depended  more  on  the  conventional 
feeling  that  had  been  got  up  through  moral  agencies,  than 
on  birth-place,  origin,  or  colour.  Each  glanced  his  eye  sig 
nificantly  at  the  other,  and  a  sarcastic  smile  passed  over  the 
face  of  Sir  Gervaise,  though  his  friend  maintained  his  cus 
tomary  appearance  of  gravity. 

"  I  believe  le  Grand  Monarque  and  Marshal  Saxe  give  a 
different  account  of  that  matter,  Sir  Wycherly,"  drily  ob 
served  the  former  ;  "  and  it  may  be  well  to  remember  that 
there  are  two  sides  to  every  story.  Whatever  may  be  said 
of  Dettingen,  I  fancy  history  will  set  down  Fontenoi  as 
anything  but  a  feather  in  His  Royal  Highness'  cap." 

"  You  surely  do  not  consider  it  possible  for  the  French 
arms  to  overthrow  a  British  army,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  !" 
exclaimed  the  simple-minded  provincial — for  such  was  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  though  he  had  sat  in  parliament, 
had  four  thousand  a  year,  and  was  of  one  of  the  oldest  fami 
lies  in  England — "  It  sounds  like  treason  to  admit  the  possi 
bility  of  such  a  thing." 

"  God  bless  us,  my  dear  sir,  I  am  as  far  from  supposing 
any  such  thing,  as  the  Duke  of  Cumberland  himself;  who, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  69 

by  the  way,  has  as  much  English  blood  in  his  veins,  as  the 
Baltic  may  have  of  the  water  of  the  Mediterranean — hey  ! 
Atwood  ?  By  the  way,  Sir  Wycherly,  I  must  ask  a  little 
tenderness  of  you  in  behalf  of  my  friend  the  secretary,  here, 
who  has  a  national  weakness  in  favour  of  the  Pretender,  and 
all  of  the  clan  Stuart." 

"I  hope  not — I  sincerely  hope  not,  Sir  Gervaise!"  ex 
claimed  Sir  Wycherly,  with  a  warmth  that  was  not  entirely 
free  from  alarm  ;  his  own  loyalty  to  the  new  house  being 
altogether  without  reproach.  "  Mr.  Atwood  has  the  air  of  a 
gentleman  of  too  good  principles  not  to  see  on  which  side 
real  religious  and  political  liberty  lie.  I  am  sure  you  are 
pleased  to  be  jocular,  Sir  Gervaise ;  the  very  circumstance 
that  he  is  in  your  company  is  a  pledge  of  his  loyalty." 

"  Well,  well,  Sir  Wycherly,  I  would  not  give  you  a  false 
idea  of  my  friend  Atwood,  if  possible ;  and  so  I  may  as  well 
confess,  that,  while  his  Scotch  blood  inclines  him  to  tory- 
ism,  his  English  reason  makes  him  a  whig.  If  Charles 
Stuart  never  gets  the  throne  until  Stephen  Atwood  helps  him 
to  a  seat  on  it,  he  may  take  leave  of  ambition  for  ever." 

"  I  thought  as  much,  Sir  Gervaise — I  thought  your  secre 
tary  could  never  lean  to  the  doctrine  of  '  passive  obedience 
and  non-resistance.'  That 's  a  principle  which  would  hardly 
suit  sailors,  Admiral  Bluewater." 

Admiral  Bluewater's  fine,  full,  blue  eye  lighted  with  an 
expression  approaching  irony  ;  but  he  made  no  other  answer 
than  a  slight  inclination  of  the  head..  In  point  of  fact,  he 
was  a  Jacobite ;  though  no  one  was  acquainted  with  the  cir 
cumstance  but  his  immediate  commanding  officer.  As  a 
seaman,  he  was  called  on  only  to  serve  his  country  ;  and, 
as  often  happens  to  military  men,  he  was  willing  to  do  this 
under  any  superior  whom  circumstances  might  place  over 
his  head,  let  his  private  sentiments  be  what  they  might. 
During  the  civil  war  of  1715,  he  was  too  young  in  years, 
and  too  low  in  rank,  to  render  his  opinions  of  much  im 
portance  ;  and,  kept  on  foreign  stations,  his  services  could 
only  affect  the  general  interests  of  the  nation,  without  pro 
ducing  any  influence  on  the  contest  at  home.  Since  that 
period,  nothing  had  occurred  to  require  ono,  whose  duty 
kept  him  on  the  ocean,  to  come  to  a  very  positive  decision 
between  the  two  masters  that  claimed  his  allegiance.  Sir 


70  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

Gervaise  had  always  been  able  to  persuade  him  that  he  was 
sustaining  the  honour  and  interests  of  his  country,  and  that 
ought  to  be  sufficient  to  a  patriot,  let  who  would  rule.  Not 
withstanding  this  wide  difference  in  political  feeling  between 
the  two  admirals — Sir  Gervaise  being  as  decided  a  whig,  as 
his  friend  was  a  tory — their  personal  harmony  had  been 
.without  a  shade.  As  to  confidence,  the  superior  knew  the 
inferior  so  well,  that  he  believed  the  surest  way  to  prevent  his 
taking  sides  openly  with  the  Jacobites,  or  of  doing  them  secret 
service,  was  to  put  it  in  his  power  to  commit  a  great  breach 
of  trust.  So  long  as  faith  were  put  in  his  integrity,  Sir  Ger 
vaise  felt  certain  his  friend  Bluewater  might  be  relied  on  ; 
and  he  also  knew  that,  should  the  moment  ever  come  when 
the  other  really  intended  to  abandon  the  service  of  the  house 
of  Hanover,  he  would  frankly  throw  up  his  employments, 
and  join  the  hostile  standard,  without  profiting,  in  any  man 
ner,  by  the  trusts  he  had  previously  enjoyed.  It  is  also  ne 
cessary  that  the  reader  should  understand  that  Admiral 
Bluewater  had  never  communicated  his  political  opinions  to 
any  person  but  his  friend  ;  the  Pretender  and  his  counsellors 
being  as  ignorant  of  them,  as  George  II.  and  his  ministers. 
The  only  practica.1  effect,  therefore,  that  they  had  ever  pro 
duced  was  to  induce  him  to  decline  separate  commands, 
several  of  which  had  been  offered  to  him ;  one,  quite  equal 
to  that  enjoyed  by  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  himself. 

"  No,"  the  latter  answered  to  Sir  Wycherly's  remark ; 
though  the  grave,  thoughtful  expression  of  his  face,  showed 
how  little  his  feelings  chimed  in,  at  the  moment,  with  the 
ironical  language  of  his  tongue.  "  No — Sir  Wycherly,  a 
rnan-of-war's  man,  in  particular,  has  not  the  slightest  idea 
of '  passive  obedience  and  non-resistance,' — that  is  a  doctrine 
which  is  intelligible  only  to  papists  and  tories.  Bluewater 
is  in  a  brown  study ;  thinking  no  doubt  of  the  manner  in 
which  he  intends  to  lead  down  on  Monsieur  de  G ravelin, 
should  we  ever  have  the  luck  to  meet  that  gentleman  again  ; 
so  we  will,  if  it 's  agreeable  to  all  parties,  change  the  sub 
ject." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  baronet, 
cordially  ;  "  and,  after  all,  there  is  little  use  in  discussing 
the  affair  of  the  Pretender  any  longer,  for  he  appears  to  be 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS*  71 

n''e  out  of  men's  minds,  since  that  last  failure  of  King 
is  XV." 

"  Yes,  Norris  rather  crushed  the  young  viper  in  its  shell, 
and  we  may  consider  the  thing  at  an  end." 

"  So  my  late  brother,  Baron  Wychecombe,  always  treated 
it,  Sir  Gervaise.  He  once  assured  me  that  the  twelve 
judges  were  clearly  against  the  claim,  and  that  the  Stuarts 
had  nothing  to  expect  from  them" 

"  Did  he  tell  you,  sir,  on  what  ground  these  learned  gen 
tlemen  had  come  to  this  decision  ?"  quietly  asked  Admiral 
Bluewater. 

"  He  did,  indeed ;  for  he  knew  my  strong  desire  to  make 
out  a  good  case  against  the  tories  so  well,  that  he  laid  all 
the  law  before  me.  I  am  a  bad  hand,  however,  to  repeat 
even  what  I  hear ;  though  my  poor  brother,  the  late  Rev. 
James  Wychecombe  —  St.  James  as  I  used  to  call  him  — 
could  go  over  a  discourse  half  an  hour  long,  and  not  miss  a 
word.  Thomas  and  James  appear  to  have  run  away  with 
the  memories  of  the  rest  of  the  family.  Nevertheless,  I  re 
collect  it  all  depended  on  an  act  of  Parliament,  which  is 
supreme ;  and  the  house  of  Hanover  reigning  by  an  act  of 
Parliament,  no  court  could  set  aside  the  claim." 

"  Very  clearly  explained,  sir,"  continued  Bluewater ; 
"  and  you  will  permit  me  to  say  that  there  was  no  necessity 
for  an  apology  on  account  of  the  memory.  Your  brother, 
however,  might  not  have  exactly  explained  what  an  act  of 
Parliament  is.  King,  Lords,  and  Commons,  are  all  neces 
sary  to  an  act  of  Parliament." 

"  Certainly — we  all  know  that,  my  dear  admiral ;  we  poor 
fellows  ashore  here,  as  well  as  you  mariners  at  sea.  The 
Hanoverian  succession  had  all  three  to  authorize  it." 

"Had  it  a  king?" 

"  A  king  !  Out  of  dispute — or  what  we  bachelors  ought 
to  consider  as  much  better,  it  had  a  queen.  Queen  Anne 
approved  of  the  act,  and  that  made  it  an  act  of  Parliament. 
I  assure  you,  I  learned  a  good  deal  of  law  in  the  Baron's 
visits  to  Wychecombe ;  and  in  the  pleasant  hours  we  used 
to  chat  together  in  his  chambers  !" 

"  And  who  signed  the  act  of  Parliament  that  made  Anne 
a  queen  ?  or  did  she  ascend  the  throne  by  regular  succes 
sion  ?  Both  Mary  and  Anne  were  sovereigns  by  acts  of 


72  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

Parliament,  and  we  must  look  back  until  we  get  the  ap 
proval  of  a  prince  who  took  the  crown  by  legal  descent." 

"  Come — come,  Bluewater,"  put  in  Sir  Gervaise,  gravely  ; 
u  we  may  persuade  Sir  Wycherly,  in  this  manner,  that  he 
has  a  couple  of  furious  Jacobites  in  company.  The  Stuarts 
were  dethroned  by  a  revolution,  which  is  a  law  of  nature, 
and  enacted  by  God,  and  which  of  course  overshadows  all 
other  laws  when  it  gets  into  the  ascendant,  as  it  clearly  has 
done  in  this  case.  I  take  it,  Sir  Wycherly,  these  are  your 
park-gates,  and  that  yonder  is  the  Hall." 

This  remark  changed  the  discourse,  and  the  whole  party 
proceeded  towards  the  house,  discussing  the  beauty  of  its 
position,  its  history,  and  its  advantages,  until  they  reached 
its  door. 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  Monarch  and  ministers,  are  awful  names : 
Whoever  wear  them,  challenge  our  devoir." 

YOUNO. 

OUR  plan  does  not  require  an  elaborate  description  of  the  re 
sidence  of  Sir  Wycherly.  The  house  had  been  neither  priory, 
abbey,  nor  castle;  but  it  was  erected  as  a  dwelling  for 
himself  and  his  posterity,  by  a  Sir  Michael  Wychecombe, 
two  or  three  centuries  before,  and  had  been  kept  in  good 
serviceable  condition  ever  since.  It  had  the  usual  long,  nar 
row  windows,  a  suitable  hall,  wainscoted  rooms,  battle- 
mented  walls,  and  turreted  angles.  It  was  neither  large, 
nor  small ;  handsome,  nor  ugly ;  grand,  nor  mean  ;  but  it 
was  quaint,  respectable  in  appearance,  and  comfortable  as 
an  abode. 

The  admirals  were  put  each  in  possession  of  bed-cham 
bers  and  dressing-rooms,  as  soon  as  they  arrived  ;  and  At- 
wood  was  berthed  not  far  from  his  commanding-officer,  in 
readiness  for  service,  if  required.  Sir  Wycherly  was  natu 
rally  hospitable ;  but  his  retired  situation  had  given  him  a 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  73 

zest  for  company,  that  greatly  increased  the  inborn  disposi 
tion.  Sir  Gervaise,  it  was  understood,  was  to  pass  the  night 
with  him,  and  he  entertained  strong  hopes  of  including  his 
friend  in  the  same  arrangement.  Beds  were  ordered,  too, 
for  Button,  his  wife,  and  daughter  ;  and  his  namesake,  the 
lieutenant,  was  expected  also  to  sleep  under  his  roof,  that 
night. 

The  day  passed  in  the  customary  manner ;  the  party  hav 
ing  breakfasted,  and  then  separated  to  attend  to  their  several 
occupations,  agreeably  to  the  usages  of  all  country  houses, 
in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and,  we  believe,  in  all  time.  Sir 
Gervaise,  who  had  sent  a  messenger  off  to  the  Plantagenet 
for  certain  papers,  spent  the  morning  in  writing ;  Admiral 
Bluewater  walked  in  the  park,  by  himself;  Atwood  was  oc 
cupied  with  his  superior  ;  Sir  Wycherly  rode  among  his 
labourers  ;  and  Tom  Wychecombe  took  a  rod,  and  pretended 
to  go  forth  to  fish,  though  he  actually  held  his  way  back  to 
the  head-land,  lingering  in  and  around  the  cottage  until  it 
was  time  to  return  home.  At  the  proper  hour,  Sir  Wy 
cherly  sent  his  chariot  for  the  ladies ;  and  a  few  minutes 
before  the  appointed  moment,  the  party  began  to  assemble 
.n  the  drawing-room. 

When  Sir  Wycherly  appeared,  he  found  the  Buttons  al 
ready  in  possession,  with  Tom  doing  the  honours  of  the 
house.  Of  the  sailing-master  and  his  daughter,  it  is  unne 
cessary  to  say  more  than  that  the  former  was  in  his  best  uni 
form — an  exceedingly  plain  one,  as  was  then  the  case  with 
the  whole  naval  wardrobe — and  that  the  last  had  recovered 
from  her  illness,  as  was  evident  by  the  bloom  that  the  sen 
sitive  blushes  constantly  cast  athwart  her  lovely  face.  Her 
attire  was  exactly  what  it  ought  to  have  been ;  neat,  simple, 
and  becoming.  In  honour  of  the  host,  she  wore  her  best ; 
but  this  was  what  became  her  station,  though  a  little  jewelry 
'hat  rather  surpassed  what  might  have  been  expected  in  a 
girl  of  her  rank  of  life,  threw  around  her  person  an  air  of 
modest  elegance.  Mrs.  Button  was  a  plain,  matronly  wo 
man — the  daughter  of  a  land-steward  of  a  nobleman  in  the 
same  county — with  an  air  of  great  mental  suffering,  from 
griefs  she  had  never  yet  exposed  to  the  heartless  sympathy 
of  the  world. 

The  baronet  was  so  much  in  the  habit  of  seeing  his  hum- 
7 


74  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ble  neighbours,  that  an  intimacy  had  grown  up  between 
them.  Sir  Wycherly,  who  was  anything  but  an  acute  ob 
server,  felt  an  interest  in  the  melancholy-looking,  and  almost 
heart-broken  mother,  without  knowing  why  ;  or  certainly 
without  suspecting  the  real  character  of  her  habitual  sad 
ness  ;  while  Mildred's  youth  and  beauty  had  not  failed  of 
producing  the  customary  effect  of  making  a  friend  of  the 
old  bachelor.  He  shook  hands  all  round,  therefore,  with 
great  cordiality  ;  expressing  his  joy  at  meeting  Mrs.  Dutton, 
and  congratulating  the  daughter  on  her  complete  recovery. 

"  I  see  Tom  has  been  attentive  to  his  duty,"  he  added, 
"  while  I  've  been  detained  by  a  silly  fellow  about  a  com 
plaint  against  a  poacher.  My  namesake,  young  Wycherly, 
has  not  got  back  yet,  though  it  is  quite  two  hours  past  his 
time  ;  and  Mr.  Atwood  tells  me  the  admiral  is  a  little  uneasy 
about  his  despatches.  I  tell  him  Mr.  Wycherly  Wyche- 
combe,  though  I  have  not  the  honour  of  ranking  him  among 
my  relatives,  and  he  is  only  a  Virginian  by  birth,  is  a  young 
man  to  be  relied  on  ;  and  that  the  despatches  are  safe,  let 
what  may  detain  the  courier." 

"  And  why  should  not  a  Virginian  be  every  way  as  trust 
worthy  and  prompt  as  an  Englishman,  Sir  Wycherly  ?" 
asked  Mrs.  Dutton.  "  He  is  an  Englishman,  merely  sepa 
rated  from  us  by  the  water." 

This  was  said  mildly,  or  in  the  manner  of  one  accustomed 
to  speak  under  a  rebuked  feeling ;  but  it  was  said  earnestly, 
and  perhaps  a  little  reproachfully,  while  the  speaker's  eye 
glanced  with  natural  interest  towards  the  beautiful  face  of 
her  daughter. 

"  Why  not,  sure  enough,  my  dear  Mrs.  Dutton !"  echoed  the 
baronet.  "  They  are  Englishmen,  like  ourselves,  only  born 
out  of  the  realm,  as  it  mi^ht  be,  and  no  doubt  a  little  dif 
ferent  on  that  account.  They  are  fellow-subjects,  Mrs. 
Dutton,  and  that  is  a  great  deal.  Then  they  are  miracles 
of  loyalty,  there  being  scarcely  a  Jacobite,  as  they  tell  me, 
in  all  the  colonies." 

"  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  is  a  very  respectable  young 
gentleman,"  said  Dutton  ;  "  and  I  hear  he  is  a  prime  seaman 
for  his  years.  He  has  not  the  honour  of  being  related  to 
this  distinguished  family,  like  Mr.  Thomas,  here,  it  is  true ; 
but  he  is  likely  to  make  a  name  for  himself.  Should  he 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  75 

get  a  ship,  and  do  as  handsome  things  in  her,  as  he  has 
done  already,  His  Majesty  would  probably  knight  him ;  and 
then  we  should  have  two  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombes  !" 

"  I  hope  not  —  I  hope  not!"  exclaimed  the  baronet;  "I 
think  there  must  be  a  law  against  that.  As  it  is,  I  shall  be 
obliged  to  put  Bart,  after  my  name,  as  my  worthy  grandfa 
ther  used  to  do,  in  order  to  prevent  confusion  ;  but  England 
can't  bear  two  Sir  Wycherlys,  any  more  than  the  world 
can  bear  two  suns.  Is  not  that  your  opinion,  Miss  Mildred  ?" 

The  baronet  had  laughed  at  his  own  allusion,  showing  he 
spoke  half  jocularly  ;  but,  as  his  question  was  put  in  too  di 
rect  a  manner  to  escape  general  attention,  the  confused  girl 
was  obliged  to  answer. 

"  I  dare  say  Mr.  Wychecombe  will  never  reach  a  rank 
high  enough  to  cause  any  such  difficulty,"  she  said ;  and  it 
was  said  in  all  sincerity ;  for,  unconsciously  perhaps,  she 
secretly  hoped  that  no  difference  so  wide  might  ever  be 
created  between  the  youth  and  herself.  "  If  he  should,  I 
suppose  his  rights  would  be  as  good  as  another's,  and  he 
must  keep  his  name." 

"  In  such  a  case,  which  is  improbable  enough,  as  Miss 
Mildred  has  so  well  observed,"  put  in  Tom  Wychecombe, 
"  we  should  have  to  submit  to  the  knighthood,  for  that 
comes  from  the  king,  who  might  knight  a  chimney-sweep, 
if  he  see  fit ;  but  a  question  might  be  raised  as  to  the  name. 
It  is  bad  enough  as  it  is ;  but  if  it  really  got  to  be  two  Sir 
Wycherlys,  I  think  my  dear  uncle  would  be  wrong  to  sub 
mit  to  such  an  invasion  of  what  one  might  call  his  individu 
ality,  without  making  some  inquiry  as  to  the  right  of  the 
gentleman  to  one  or  both  his  names.  The  result  might  show 
that  the  king  had  made  a  Sir  Something  Nobody." 

The  sneer  and  spite  with  which  this  was  uttered,  were  too 
marked  to  escape  notice  ;  and  both  Button  and  his  wife  felt  it 
would  be  unpleasant  to  mingle  farther  in  the  discourse. 
Still  the  last,  submissive,  rebuked,  and  heart-broken  as  she 
was,  felt  a  glow  on  her  own  pale  cheek,  as  she  saw  the 
colour  mounf  in  the  face  of  Mildred,  and  she  detected  the 
strong  impulses  that  urged  the  generous  girl  herself  to 
answer. 

"  We  have  now  known  Mr.  Wychecombe  several  months," 
observed  Mildred,  fastening  her  full,  blue  eye  calmly  on 


76  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

Tom's  sinister-looking  face ;  u  and  we  have  never  known 
anything  to  cause  us  to  think  he  would  bear  a  name — or 
names — that  he  does  not  at  least  think  he  has  a  right  to." 

This  was  said  gently,  but  so  distinctly,  that  every  word 
entered  fairly  into  Tom  Wychecombe's  soul ;  who  threw  a 
quick,  suspicious  glance  at  the  lovely  speaker,  as  if  to  as 
certain  how  far  she  intended  any  allusion  to  himself.  Meet 
ing  with  no  other  expression  than  that  of  generous  interest, 
he  recovered  his  self-command,  and  made  his  reply  with 
sufficient  coolness. 

"  Upon  my  word,  Mrs.  Button,"  he  cried,  laughing ;  "  we 
young  men  will  all  of  us  have  to  get  over  the  cliff,  and  hang 
dangling  at  the  end  of  a  rope,  in  order  to  awaken  an  interest 
in  Miss  Mildred,  to  defend  us  when  our  backs  are  turned. 
So  eloquent  —  and  most  especially,  so  lovely,  so  charming 
an  advocate,  is  almost  certain  of  success  ;  and  my  uncle  and 
myself  must  admit  the  absent  gentleman's  right  to  our 
name ;  though,  heaven  be  praised,  he  has  not  yet  got  either 
the  title  or  the  estate." 

"  I  hope  I  have  said  nothing,  Sir  Wycherly,  to  displease 
yow,"  returned  Mildred,  with  emphasis  ;  though  her  face  was 
a  thousand  times  handsomer  than  ever,  with  the  blushes 
that  suffused  it.  "  Nothing  would  pain  me  more,  than  to 
suppose  I  had  done  so  improper  a  thing.  I  merely  meant 
that  we  cannot  believe  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  would 
willingly  take  a  name  he  had  no  right  to." 

"  My  little  dear,"  said  the  baronet,  taking  the  hand  of  the 
distressed  girl,  and  kissing  her  cheek,  as  he  had  often  done 
before,  with  fatherly  tenderness  ;  "  it  is  not  an  easy  matter 
for  you  to  offend  me,'  and  1  'm  sure  the  young  fellow  is  quite 
welcome  to  both  my  names,  if  you  wish  him  to  have  'em." 

"  And  I  merely  meant,  Miss  Mildred,"  resumed  Tom,  who 
feared  he  might  have  gone  too  far ;  "  that  the  young  gentle 
man — quite  without  any  fault  of  his  own — is  probably  igno 
rant  how  he  came  by  two  names  that  have  so  long  pertained 
to  the  head  of  an  ancient  and  honourable  family.  There  is 
many  a  young  man  born,  who  is  worthy  of  being  an  earl, 
but  whom  the  law  considers — "  here  Tom  paused  to  choose 
terms  suitable  for  his  auditor,  when  the  baronet  added, 

"  P^Jilius  nullius — that's  the  phrase,  Tom — I  had  it  from 
your  own  father's  mouth." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  77 

Tom  Wychecombe  started,  and  looked  furtively  around 
him,  as  if  to  ascertain  who  suspected  the  truth.  Then  he 
continued,  anxious  to  regain  the  ground  he  feared  he  had 
lost  in  Mildred's  favour. 

"  Filius  nullius  means,  Miss  Mildred,  exactly  what  I 
wish  to  express  ;  a  family  without  any  legal  origin.  They 
tell  me,  however,  that  in  the  colonies,  nothing  is  more  com 
mon  than  for  people  to  take  the  names  of  the  great  families 
at  home,  and  after  a  while  they  fancy  themselves  related." 

"  I  never  heard  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  say  a  word 
to  lead  us  to  suppose  that  he  was,  in  any  manner,  connected 
with  this  family,  sir,"  returned  Mildred,  calmly,  but  quite 
distinctly. 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  him  say  he  was  not,  Miss  Mildred  ?" 

"  I  cannot  say  I  ever  did,  Mr.  Wychecombe.  It  is  a  sub 
ject  that  has  seldom  been  introduced  in  my  hearing." 

"  But  it  has  often  been  introduced  in  his  !  I  declare,  Sir 
Wycherly,  it  has  struck  me  as  singular,  that  while  you  and 
[  have  so  very  frequently  stated  in  the  presence  of  this  gen 
tleman,  that  our  families  are  in  no  way  connected,  he  has 
never,  in  any  manner,  not  even  by  a  nod  or  a  look  of  ap 
probation,  assented  to  what  he  must  certainly  know  to  be 
the  case.  But  I  suppose,  like  a  true  colonist,  he  was  un 
willing  to  give  up  his  hold  on  the  old  stock." 

Here  the  entrance  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  changed  the 
discourse.  The  vice-admiral  joined  the  party  in  good 
spirits,  as  is  apt  to  be  the  case  with  men  who  have  been 
much  occupied  with  affairs  of  moment,  and  who  meet  relax 
ation  with  a  consciousness  of  having  done  their  duty. 

"  If  one  could  take  with  him  to  sea,  the  comforts  of  such 
a  house  as  this,  Sir  Wycherly,  and  such  handsome  faces  as 
your  own,  young  lady,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  cheerfully,  after 
he  had  made  his  salutations ;  "  there  would  be  an  end  of 
our  exclusiveness,  for  every  petit  maitre  of  Paris  and  Lon 
don  would  turn  sailor,  as  a  matter  of  course.  Six  months 
in  the  Bay  of  Biscay  gives  an  old  fellow,  like  myself,  a  keen 
relish  for  these  enjoyments,  as  hunger  makes  any  meat 
palatable  ;  though  I  am  far,  very  far,  indeed,  from  putting 
this  house  or  this  company,  on  a  level  with  an  indifferent 
feast,  even  for  an  epicure." 

"  Such  as  it:  is,  Sir  Gervaise,  the  first  is  quite  at  your 
7* 


78  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

service,  in  all  things,"  rejoined  the  host ;  "  and  the  last  will 
do  all  in  its  power  to  make  itself  agreeable." 

»  Ah — here  comes  Bluewater  to  echo  all  I  have  said  and 
feel.  I  am  telling  Sir  Wycherly  and  the  ladies,  of  the  satis 
faction  we  grampuses  experience  when  we  get  berthed  under 
such  a  roof  as  this,  with  woman's  sweet  face  to  throw  a 
gleam  of  happiness  around  her." 

Admiral  Bluewater  had  already  saluted  the  mother,  but 
when  his  eye  fell  on  the  face  and  person  of  Mildred,  it  was 
riveted,  for  an  instant,  with  an  earnestness  and  intentness 
of  surprise  and  admiration  that  all  noted,  though  no  one  saw 
fit  to  comment  on  it. 

"Sir  Gervaise  is  so  established  an  admirer  of  the  sex," 
said  the  rear-admiral,  recovering  himself,  after  a  pause;  "  that 
I  am  never  astonished  at  any  of  his  raptures.  Salt  water 
has  the  usual  effect  on  him,  however;  for  I  have  now  known 
him  longer  than  he  might  wish  to  be  reminded  of,  and  yet 
the  only  mistress  who  can  keep  him  true,  is  his  ship." 

"  And  to  that  I  believe  I  may  be  said  to  be  constant.  I 
don't  know  how  it  is  with  you,  Sir  Wycherly,  but  every 
thing  I  am  accustomed  to  I  like.  Now,  here  I  have  sailed 
with  both  these  gentlemen,  until  I  should  as  soon  think  of 
going  to  sea  without  a  binnacle,  as  to  go  to  sea  without  'em 
both — hey  !  Atwood  ? — Then,  as  to  the  ship,  my  flag  has 
been  flying  in  the  Plantagenet  these  ten  years,  and  I  can't 
bear  to  give  the  old  craft  up,  though  Bluewater,  here,  would 
have  turned  her  over  to^an  inferior  after  three  year's  ser 
vice.  I  tell  all  the  young  men  they  don't  stay  long  enough 
in  any  one  vessel  to  find  out  her  good  qualities.  I  never 
was  in  a  slow  ship  yet." 

"  For  the  simple  reason  that  you  never  get  into  a  fast 
one,  that  you  do  not  wear  her  fairly  out,  before  you  give  her 
up.  The  Plantagenet,  Sir  Wycherly,  is  the  fastest  two- 
decker  in  His  Majesty's  service,  and  the  vice-admiral  knows 
it  too  well  to  let  any  of  us  get  foot  in  her,  while  her  timbers 
will  hang  together." 

"  Let  it  be  so,  if  you  will ;  it  only  shows,  Sir  Wycherly, 
that  I  do  not  choose  my  friends  for  their  bad  qualities.  But, 
allow  me  to  ask,  young  lady,  if  you  happen  to  know  a  cer 
tain  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe — a  namesake,  but  no  re 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  79 

lative,  I  understand,  of  our  respectable  host — and  one  who 
holds  a  commission  in  His  Majesty's  service?" 

"  Certainly,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Mildred,  dropping 
her  eyes  to  the  floor,  and  trembling,  though  she  scarce  knew 
why  ;  "  Mr.  Wychecombe  has  been  about  here,  now,  for 
some  months,  and  we  all  know  something  of  him." 

"  Then,  perhaps  you  can  tell  me  whether  he  is  generally 
a  loiterer  on  duty.  I  do  not  inquire  whether  he  is  a  laggard 
in  his  duty  to  you,  but  whether,  mounted  on  a  good  hunter, 
he  could  get  over  twenty  miles,  in  eight  or  ten  hours,  for 
instance  •]" 

"  I  think  Sir  Wycherly  would  tell  you  that  he  could,  sir." 

"  He  may  be  a  Wychecombe,  Sir  Wycherly,  but  he  is 
no  Plantagenet,  in  the  way  of  sailing.  Surely  the  young 
gentleman  ought  to  have  returned  some  hours  since !" 

"  It 's  quite  surprising  to  me  that  he  is  not  back  before 
this,"  returned  the  kind-hearted  baronet.  "  He  is  active, 
and  understands  himself,  and  there  is  not  a  better  horseman 
in  the  county — is  there,  Miss  Mildred  ?" 

Mildred  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  reply  to  this  direct 
appeal ;  but  spite  of  the  manner  in  which  she  had  been  en 
deavouring1  to  school  her  feelings,  since  the  accident  on  the 
cliff,  she  could  not  prevent  the  deadly  paleness  that  dread 
of  some  accident  had  produced,  or  the  rush  of  colour  to  her 
cheeks  that  followed  from  the  unexpected  question  of  Sir 
Wycherly.  Turning  to  conceal  her  confusion,  she  met  the 
eye  of  Tom  Wychecombe  riveted  on  her  face,  with  an  ex 
pression  so  sinister,  that  it  caused  her  to  tremble.  For 
tunately,  at  this  moment,  Sir  Gervaise  turned  away,  and 
drawing  near  his  friend,  on  the  other  side  of  the  large  apart 
ment,  he  said  in  an  under  tone — 

"  Luckily,  Atwood  has  brought  ashore  a  duplicate  of  my 
despatches,  Bluewater,  and  if  this  dilatory  gentleman  does  not 
return  by  the  time  we  have  dined,  I  will  send  off  a  second 
courier.  The  inteliigence  is  too  important  to  be  trifled  with; 
and  aftar  having  brought  the  fleet  north,  to  be  in  readiness 
to  serve  the  state  in  this  emergency,  it  would  be  rare  folly 
to  leave  the  ministry  in  ignorance  of  the  reasons  why  I  have 
done  it." 

"  Nevertheless,  they  would  be  almost  as  well-informed, 
as  I  am  myself,"  returned  the  rear-admiral,  with  a  little 


80  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

point,  but  quite  without  any  bitterness  of  manner.  "  The 
only  advantage  I  have  over  them  is  that  I  do  know  where 
the  fleet  is,  which  is  more  than  the  First  Lord  can  boast  of." 

"  True — I  had  forgot,  my  friend — but  you  must  feel  that 
there  is  a  subject  on  which  I  had  better  not  consult  you.  1 
have  received  some  important  intelligence,  that  my  duty,  as 
a  commander-in-chief,  renders  it  necessary  I  should — keep 
to  myself." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed  as  he  concluded,  though  he  seemed 
vexed  and  embarrassed.  Admiral  Bluewater  betrayed  neither 
chagrin,  nor  disappointment ;  but  strong,  nearly  ungoverna 
ble  curiosity,  a  feeling  from  which  he  was  singularly  ex 
empt  in  general,  glowed  in  his  eyes,  and  lighted  his  whole 
countenance.  Still,  habitual  submission  to  his  superior,  and 
the  self-command  of  discipline,  enabled  him  to  wait  for  any 
thing  more  that  his  friend  might  communicate.  At  this  mo 
ment,  the  door  opened,  and  Wycherly  entered  the  room,  in 
the  state  in  which  he  had  just  dismounted.  It  was  necessary 
to  throw  but  a  single  glance  at  his  hurried  manner,  and 
general  appearance,  to  know  that  he  had  something  of  im 
portance  to  communicate,  and  Sir  Gervaise  made  a  sign  for 
him  not  to  speak. 

"  This  is  public  service,  Sir  Wycherly,"  said  the  vice-ad 
miral,  "  and  I  hope  you  will  excuse  us  for  a  few  minutes. 
I  beg  this  good  company  will  be  seated  at  table,  as  soon  as 
dinner  is  served,  and  that  you  will  treat  us  as  old  friends — 
as  I  should  treat  you,  if  we  were  on  board  the  Plantagenet. 
Admiral  Bluewater,  will  you  be  of  our  conference  ?" 

Nothing  more  was  said  until  the  two  admirals  and  the 
young  lieutenant  were  in  the  dressing-room  of  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes.  Then  the  latter  turned,  and  addressed  Wycherly, 
with  the  manner  of  a  superior. 

"  I  should  have  met  you  with  a  reproof,  for  this  delay, 
young  gentleman,"  he  commenced,  "  did  I  not  suspect,  from 
your  appearance,  that  something  of  moment  has  occurred  to 
produce  it.  Had  the  mail  passed  the  market-town,  before 
you  reached  it,  sir  ?" 

"  It  had  not,  Admiral  Oakes  ;  and  I  have  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  that  youi  despatches  are  now  several  hours  on 
their  way  to  London.  I  reached  the  office  just  in  season  to 
see  them  mailed." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  81 

"  Humph  !  On  board  the  Plantagenet,  it  is  the  custom  for 
an  officer  to  report  any  important  duty  done,  as  soon  as  it  is 
in  a  condition  to  be  thus  laid  before  the  superior  !" 

"  I  presume  that  is  the  usage  in  all  His  Majesty's  ships, 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes ;  but  I  have  been  taught  that  a  proper 
discretion,  when  it  does  not  interfere  with  positive  orders, 
and  sometimes  when  it  does,  is  a  surer  sign  of  a  useful  offi 
cer,  than  even  the  most  slavish  attention  to  rules." 

"  That  is  a  just  distinction,  young  gentleman,  though  safer 
in  the  hands  of  a  captain,  perhaps,  than  in  those  of  a  lieu 
tenant,"  returned  the  vice-admiral,  glancing  at  his  friend, 
though  he  secretly  admired  the  youth's  spirit.  "  Discretion 
is  a  comparative  term ;  meaning  different  things  with  dif 
ferent  persons.  May  I  presume  to  ask  what  Mr.  VVycherly 
Wychecombe  calls  discretion,  in  the  present  instance?" 

"  You  have  every  right,  sir,  to  know,  and  I  only  wanted 
your  permission  to  tell  my  whole  story.  While  waiting  to 
see  the  London  mail  start  with  your  despatches,  and  to  rest 
my  horse,  a  post-chaise  arrived  that  was  carrying  a  gentle 
man,  who  is  suspected  of  being  a  Jacobite,  to  his  country- 
seat,  some  thirty  miles  further  west.  This  gentleman  held 
a  secret  conference  with  another  person  of  the  same  way  of 
thinking  as  himself;  and  there  was  so  much  running  and 
sending  of  messages,  that  I  could  not  avoid  suspecting  some 
thing  was  in  the  wind.  Going  to  the  stable  to  look  after 
Sir  Wycherly's  hunter,  for  I  knew  how  much  he  values  the 
animal,  I  found  one  of  the  stranger's  servants  in  discourse 
with  the  ostler.  The  latter  told  me,  when  the  chaise  had 
gone,  that  great  tidings  had  reached  Exeter,  before  the  tra 
vellers  quitted  the  town.  These  tidings  he  described  as 
news  that  '  Charley  was  no  longer  over  the  water.'  It  was 
useless,  Sir  Gervaise,  to  question  one  so  stupid ;  and,  at  the 
inn,  though  all  observed  the  manner  of  the  traveller  and  his 
visiter,  no  one  could  tell  me  anything  positive.  Under  the 
circumstances,  therefore,  I  threw  myself  into  the  return 
chaise,  and  went  as  far  as  Fowey,  where  I  met  the  important 
intelligence  that  Prince  Charles  has  actually  landed,  and  is 
at  this  moment  up,  in  Scotland  !" 

"  The  Pretender  is  then  really  once  more  among  us  !"  ex 
claimed  Sir  Gervaise,  like  one  who  had  half  suspected  the 
truth. 


82  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  Not  the  Pretender,  Sir  Gervaise,  as  I  understand  the 
news  ;  but  his  young  son,  Prince  Charles  Edward,  one  much 
more  likely  to  give  the  kingdom  trouble.  The  fact  is  cer 
tain,  I  believe  j  and  as  it  struck  me  that  it  might  be  important 
to  the  commander  of  so  fine  a  fleet  as  this  which  lies  under 
Wychecombe  Head,  to  know  it,  I  lost  no  time  in  getting 
back  with  the  intelligence." 

"  You  have  done  well,  young  gentleman,  and  have  proved 
that  discretion  is  quite  as  useful  and  respectable  in  a  lieu 
tenant,  as  it  can  possibly  prove  to  be  in  a  full  admiral  of  the 
white.  Go,  now,  and  make  yourself  fit  to  take  a  seat  by 
the  side  of  one  of  the  sweetest  girls  in  England,  where  I 
shall  expect  to  see  you,  in  fifteen  minutes.  Well.  Bluewa- 
ter,"  he  continued,  as  soon  as  the  door  closed  on  Wycherly ; 
'*  this  is  news,  of  a  certainty  !" 

"  It  is,  indeed  ;  and  I  take  it  to  be  the  news,  or  connected 
with  the  news,  that  you  have  sent  to  the  First  Lord,  in  the 
late  despatches.  It  has  not  taken  you  altogether  by  sur 
prise,  if  the  truth  were  said  1" 

"  It  has  not,  I  confess.  You  know  what  excellent  intelli 
gence  we  have  had,  the  past  season,  from  the  Bordeaux 
agent ;  he  sent  me  off  such  proofs  of  this  intended  expedi 
tion,  that  I  thought  it  advisable  to  bring  the  fleet  north  on 
the  strength  of  it,  that  the  ships  might  be  used  as  the  exi 
gency  should  require." 

"  Thank  God,  it  is  a  long  way  to  Scotland,  and  it  is  not 
probable  we  can  reach  the  coast  of  that  country  until  all  is 
over  !  I  wish  we  had  inquired  of  this  young  man  with  what 
sort  of,  and  how  large  a  naval  force  the  prince  was  accom 
panied  with.  Shall  I  send  for  him,  that  we  may  put  the 
question  ?" 

"  It  is  better  that  you  remain  passive,  Admiral  Bluewater. 
\  now  promise  you  that  you  shall  learn  all  I  hear  ;  and  that, 
under  the  circumstances,  I  think  ought  to  content  you." 

The  two  admirals  now  separated,  though  neither  returned 
to  the  company  for  some  little  time.  The  intelligence  they 
had  just  learned  was  too  important  to  be  lightly  received, 
and  each  of  these  veteran  seamen  paced  his  room,  for  near 
a  quarter  of  an  hour,  reflecting  on  what  might  be  the  probable 
consequences  to  the  country  and  to  himself.  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  expected  some  event  of  this  nature,  and  was  less  taken 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  83 

by  surprise  than  his  friend  ;  still  he  viewed  the  crisis  as  ex 
ceedingly  serious,  and  as  one  likely  to  destroy  the  prosperity 
of  the  nation,  as  well  as  the  peace  of  families.  There  was 
then  in  England,  as  there  is  to-day,  and  as  there  probably 
will  be  throughout  all  time,  two  parties ;  one  of  which  clung 
to  the  past  with  its  hereditary  and  exclusive  privileges, 
while  the  other  looked  more  towards  change  for  anticipated 
advantages,  and  created  honours.  Religion,  in  that  age, 
was  made  the  stalking-horse  of  politicians ;  as  is  liberty  on 
one  side,  and  >rder  on  the  other,  in  our  own  times  ;  and  men 
just  as  blindly,  as  vehemently,  and  as  regardlessly  of  prin 
ciple,  submitted  to  party  in  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  as  we  know  they  do  in  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth. 
The  mode  of  acting  was  a  little  changed,  and  the  watch 
words  and  rallying  points  were  not  exactly  the  same,  it  is 
true  ;  but,  in  all  that  relates  to  ignorant  confidence,  ferocious 
denunciation,  and  selfishness  but  half  concealed  under  the 
cloak  of  patriotism,  the  England  of  the  original  whigs  and 
tories,  was  the  England  of  conservatism  and  reform,  and 
the  America  of  1776,  and  the  America  of  1841. 

Still  thousands  always  act,  in  political  struggles,  with  the 
fairest  intentions,  though  they  act  in  bitter  opposition  to  each 
other.  When  prejudice  becomes  the  stimulant  of  ignorance, 
no  other  result  may  be  hoped  for;  and  the  experience  of  the 
world,  in  the  management  of  human  affairs,  has  left  the  up 
right  and  intelligent,  but  one  conclusion  as  the  reward  of  all 
the  pains  and  penalties  with  which  political  revolutions  have 
been  effected — the  conviction  that  no  institutions  can  be  in 
vented,  which  a  short  working  does  not  show  will  be  perverted 
from  their  original  intention,  by  the  ingenuity  of  those  en 
trusted  with  power.  In  a  word,  the  physical  constitution  of  man 
does  not  more  infallibly  tend  to  decrepitude  and  imbecility, 
imperiously  requiring  a  new  being,  and  a  new  existence,  to 
fulfil  the  objects  of  his  creation,  than  the  moral  constitutions 
which  are  the  fruits  of  his  wisdom,  contain  the  seeds  of 
abuses  and  decay,  that  human  selfishness  will  be  as  certain 
to  cultivate,  as  human  indulgence  is  to  aid  the  course  of  na 
ture,  in  hastening  the  approaches  of  death.  Thus,  while  on 
the  one  hand,  there  exists  the  constant  incentive  of  abuses 
and  hopes  to  induce  us  to  wish  for  modifications  of  the  social 


84  THETWOADMIBALS. 

structure,  on  the  other  there  stands  the  experience  of  ages 
to  demonstrate  their  insufficiency  to  produce  the  happiness 
we  aim  at.  If  the  world  advances  in  civilization  and  hu 
manity,  it  is  because  knowledge  will  produce  its  fruits  in 
every  soil,  and  under  every  condition  of  cultivation  and  im 
provement. 

Both  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  and  Admiral  Bluewater  believed 
themselves  to  be  purely  governed  by  principles,  in  submit 
ting  to  the  bias  that  each  felt  towards  the  conflicting  claims 
of  the  houses  of  Brunswick  and  Stuart.  Perhaps  no  two 
men  in  England  were  in  fact  less  influenced  by  motives  that 
they  ought  to  feel  ashamed  to  own ;  and  yet,  as  has  been 
seen,  while  they  thought  so  much  alike  on  most  other  things, 
on  this  they  were  diametrically  opposed  to  each  other. 
During  the  many  years  of  arduous  and  delicate  duties  that 
they  had  served  together,  jealousy,  distrust,  and  discontent 
had  been  equally  strangers  to  their  bosoms ;  for  each  had 
ever  felt  the  assurance  that  his  own  honour,  happiness,  and 
interests  were  as  much  ruling  motives  with  his  friend,  as 
they  could  well  be  with  himself.  Their  lives  had  been  con 
stant  scenes  of  mutual  but  unpretending  kindnesses  ;  and 
this  under  circumstances  that  naturally  awakened  all  the 
most  generous  and  manly  sentiments  of  their  natures.  When 
young  men,  their  laughing  messmates  had  nick-named  them 
Pylades  and  Orestes  ;  and  later  in  life,  on  account  of  their 
cruising  so  much  in  company,  they  were  generally  known 
in  the  navy  as  the  "  twin  captains."  On  several  occasions 
had  they  fought  enemies'  frigates,  and  captured  them ;  on 
these  occasions,  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  senior  of  the  two 
became  most  known  to  the  nation ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  had 
made  the  most  generous  efforts  to  give  his  junior  a  full  share 
of  the  credit,  while  Captain  Bluewater  never  spoke  of  the 
affairs  without  mentioning  them  as  victories  of  the  commo 
dore.  In  a  word,  on  all  occasions,  and  under  all  circum 
stances,  it  appeared  to  be  the  aim  of  these  generous-minded 
and  gallant  seamen,  to  serve  each  other ;  nor  was  this  at 
tempted  with  any  effort,  or  striving  for  effect;  all  that  was 
said,  or  done,  coming  naturally  and  spontaneously  from  the 
heart.  But,  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives,  events  had  now 
occurred  which  threatened  a  jarring  of  the  feelings  betwewn 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  85 

them,  if  they  did  not  lead  to  acts  which  must  inevitably  place 
them  in  open  and  declared  hostility  to  each  other.  No 
wonder,  then,  that  both  looked  at  the  future  with  gloomy 
forebodings,  and  a  distrust,  which,  if  it  did  not  render  them 
unhappy,  at  least  produced  'ineasiness. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

•*  The  circle  form'd,  we  sit  in  silent  state, 
Like  figures  drawn  upon  a  dial-plate ; 
Yes  ma'am,  and  no  ma'am,  uttered  softly  show, 
Every  five  minutes,  how  the  minutes  go." 

COWFER. 

IT  is  scarcely  necessary  to  tell  the  reader  that  England, 
as  regarded  material  civilization,  was  a  very  different  country 
a  hundred  years  since,  from  what  it  is  to-day.  We  are  writing 
of  an  age  of  heavy  wagons,  coaches  and  six,  post-chaises 
and  four  ;  and  not  of  an  era  of  MacAdam-roads,  or  of  cars 
flying  along  by  steam.  A  man  may  now  post  down  to  a 
country-house,  some  sixty  or  eighty  miles,  to  dinner ;  and 
this,  too,  by  the  aid  of  only  a  pair  of  horses ;  but,  in  1745 
such  an  engagement  would  have  required  at  least  a  start  on 
the  previous  day  ;  and,  in  many  parts  of  the  island,  it  would 
have  been  safer  to  have  taken  two  days'  grace.  Scotland 
was  then  farther  from  Devonshire,  in  effect,  than  Geneva  is 
now  ;  and  news  travelled  slowly,  and  with  the  usual  exag 
gerations  and  uncertainties  of  delay.  It  was  no  wonder, 
then,  that  a  Jacobite  who  v/as  posting  off  to  his  country- 
house — the  focus  of  an  English  landlord's  influence  and 
authority  —  filled  with  intelligence  that  had  reached  him 
through  the  activity  of  zealous  political  partisans,  preceded 
the  more  regular  tidings  of  the  mail,  by  several  hours. 
The  little  that  had  escaped  this  individual,  or  his  servants 
rather,  for  the  gentleman  was  tolerably  discreet  himself,  con 
fiding  in  only  one  or  two  particular  friends  at  each  relay, 
had  not  got  out  to  the  world,  either  very  fblly,  or  very 
8 


86  THET  WO     ADMIRALS. 

clearly.  Wycherly  had  used  intelligence  in  making  his 
inquiries,  and  he  had  observed  an  officer's  prudence  in  keep 
ing  his  news  for  the  ears  of  his  superior  alone.  When  Sir 
Gervaise  joined  the  party  in  the  drawing-room,  therefore,  he 
saw  that  Sir  Wycherly  knew  nothing  of  what  had  occurred 
at  the  north  ;  and  he  intended  the  glance  which  he  directed 
at  the  lieutenant  to  convey  a  hearty  approval  of  his  discre 
tion.  This  forbearance  did  more  to  raise  the  young  officei 
in  the  opinion  of  the  practised  and  thoughtful  admiral,  than 
the  gallantry  with  M'hich  the  youth  had  so  recently  pur 
chased  his  commission  ;  for  while  many  were  brave,  few 
had  the  self-command,  and  prudence,  under  circumstances 
like  the  present,  that  alone  can  make  a  man  safe  in  the 
management  of  important  public  interests.  The  approbation 
that  Sir  Gervaise  felt,  and  which  he  desired  to  manifest,  for 
Wycherly's  prudence,  was  altogether  a  principle,  however ; 
since  there  existed  no  sufficient  reason  for  keeping  the  secret 
from  as  confirmed  a  whig  as  his  host.  On  the  contrary, 
the  sooner  those  opinions,  which  both  of  them  would  be  apt  to 
term  sound,  were  promulgated  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  better 
it  might  prove  for  the  good  cause.  The  vice-admiral,  there 
fore,  determined  to  communicate  himself,  as  soon  as  the 
party  was  seated  at  table,  the  very  secret  which  he  so  much 
commended  the  youth  for  keeping.  Admiral  Blue  water 
joining  the  company,  at  this  instant,  Sir  Wycherly  led  Mrs. 
Dutton  to  the  table.  No  alteration  had  taken  place  among 
the  guests,  except  that  Sir  Gervaise  wore  the  red  riband  ; 
a  change  in  his  dress  that  his  friend  considered  to  be  openly 
hoisting  the  standard  of  the  house  of  Hanover. 

"  One  would  not  think,  Sir  Wycherly,"  commenced  the 
vice-admiral,  glancing  his  eyes  around  him,  as  soon  as  all 
were  seated ;  "  that  this  good  company  has  taken  its  place 
at  your  hospitable  table,  in  the  midst  of  a  threatened  civil 
war,  if  not  of  an  actual  revolution." 

Every  hand  was  arrested,  and  every  eye  turned  towards 
the  speaker  ;  even  Admiral  Bluewater  earnestly  regarding 
his  friend,  anxious  to  know  what  would  come  nnxt. 

"  I  believe  my  household  is  in  due  subjection,"  answered 
Sir  Wycherly,  gazing  to  the  right  and  left,  as  if  he  expected 
to  see  his  butler  heading  a  revolt ;  "  and  I  fancy  the  only 


THE     TWO     ADMIRAL  8.  87 

change  we  shall  see  to-day,  will  be  the  removal  of  the 
courses,  and  the  appearance  of  their  successors." 

"  Ay,  so  says  the  hearty,  comfortable  Devonshire  ba 
ronet,  while  seated  at  his  own  board,  favoured  by  abundance 
and  warm  friends.  But  it  would  seem  the  snake  was  only 
scotched ;  not  killed." 

"  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  has  grown  figurative ;  with  his 
snakes  and  scoteAings,"  observed  the  rear-admiral,  a  little 
drily. 

"  It  is  Scotch-ing,  as  you  say  with  so  much  emphasis, 
Bluewater.  I  suppose,  Sir  Wycherly — I  suppose,  Mr.  Dut- 
ton,  and  you,  my  pretty  young  lady — I  presume  all  of  vou 
have  heard  of  such  a  person  as  the  Pretender  ; — some  of  you 
may  possibly  have  seen  him." 

Sir  Wycherly  now  dropt  his  knife  and  fork,  and  sat  gaz 
ing  at  the  speaker  in  amazement.  To  him  the  Christian  re 
ligion,  the  liberties  of  the  subject  —  more  especially  of  the 
baronet  and  lord  of  the  manor,  who  had  four  thousand  a 
year — and  the  protestant  succession,  all  seemed  to  be  in  sud 
den  danger. 

"  I  always  told  my  brother,  the  judge — Mr.  Baron  Wyche- 
combe,  who  is  dead  and  gone  —  that  what  between  the 
French,  that  rogue  the  Pope,  and  the  spurious  offspring  of 
King  James  II.,  we  should  yet  see  troublesome  times  in 
England  !  And  now,  sir,  my  predictions  are  verified  !" 

"  Not  as  to  England,  yet,  my  good  sir.  Of  Scotland  I 
have  not  quite  so  good  news  to  tell  you ;  as  your  namesake, 
here,  brings  us  the  tidings  that  the  son  of  the  Pretender  has 
landed  in  that  kingdom,  and  is  rallying  the  clans.  He  has 
come  unattended  by  any  Frenchmen,  it  would  seem,  and  has 
thrown  himself  altogether  on  the  misguided  nobles  and  fol 
lowers  of  his  house." 

"  'T  is,  at  least,  a  chivalrous  and  princely  act !"  exclaimed 
A.dmiral  Bluewater. 

"•  Yes — inasmuch  as  it  is  a  heedless  and  mad  one.  Eng 
land  is  not  to  be  conquered  by  a  rabble  of  half-dressed 
Scotchmen." 

"  True  ;  but  England  may  be  conquered  by  England,  not 
withstanding." 

Sir  Gervaise  now  chose  to  remain  silent,  for  never  before 
Led  Bluewater  come  so  near  betraying  his  political  bias,  in 


88  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

the  presence  of  third  persons.     This  pause  enabled  Sir  Wy 
chcrly  to  find  his  voice. 

"  Let  me  see,  Tom,"  said  the  baronet,  "  fifteen  and  ten 
are  twenty-five,  and  ten  are  thirty,  and  ten  are  forty-five — 
it  is  just  thirty  years  since  the  Jacobites  were  up  before  !  It 
would  seem  that  half  a  human  life  is  not  sufficient  to  fill  the 
cravings  of  a  Scotchman's  maw,  for  English  gold." 

"  Twice  thirty  years  would  hardly  quell  the  promptings 
of  a  noble  spirit,  when  his  notions  of  justice  showed  him  the 
way  to  the  English  throne,"  observed  Bluewater,  coolly. 
•«  For  my  part,  I  like  the  spirit  of  this  young  prince,  for  he 
who  nobly  dares,  nobly  deserves.  What  say  you,  my  beau 
tiful  neighbour?" 

"  If  you  mean  to  address  me,  sir,  by  that  compliment," 
answered  Mildred,  modestly,  but  with  the  emphasis  that  the 
gentlest  of  her  sex  are  apt  to  use  when  they  feel  strongly ; 
"  I  must  be  suffered  to  say  that  I  hope  every  Englishman 
will  dare  as  nobly,  and  deserve  as  well  in  defence  of  his 
liberties." 

"  Come — come,  Bluewater,"  interrupted  Sir  Gervaise,  with 
a  gravity  that  almost  amounted  to  reproof;  "  I  cannot  per 
mit  such  innuendoes  before  one  so  young  and  unpractised. 
The  young  lady  might  really  suppose  that  His  Majesty's 
fleet  was  entrusted  to  men  unworthy  to  enjoy  his  confidence, 
by  the  cool  way  in  which  you  carry  on  the  joke.  I  propose, 
now,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  we  eat  our  dinner  in  peace,  and 
say  no  more  about  this  mad  expedition,  until  the  cloth  is 
drawn,  at  least.  It 's  a  long  road  to  Scotland,  and  there  is 
little  danger  that  this  adventurer  will  find  his  way  into  De 
vonshire  before  the  nuts  are  placed  before  us." 

"  It  would  be  nuts  to  us,  if  he  did,  Sir  Gervaise,"  put  in 
Tom  Wycherly,  laughing  heartily  at  his  own  wit.  "  My 
uncle  would  enjoy  nothing  more  than  to  see  the  spurious 
sovereign  on  his  own  estate,  here,  and  in  the  hands  of  his 
own  tenants.  I  think,  sir,  that  Wychecombe  and  one  or 
two  of  the  adjoining  manors,  would  dispose  of  him." 

"  That  might  depend  on  circumstances,"  the  admiral 
answered,  a  little  drily.  "  These  Scots  have  such  a  thing  as 
a  claymore,  and  are  desperate  fellows,  they  tell  me,  at  a 
charge.  The  very  fact  of  arming  a  soldier  with  a  short 
•word,  shows  a  most  bl  x>dy-minded  disposition." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  89 

M  You  forget,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  we  have  our  Cornish  hug, 
here  in  the  west  of  England  ;  and  I  will  put  our  fellows 
against  any  Scotch  regiment  that  ever  charged  an  enemy." 

Tom  laughed  again  at  his  own  allusion  to  a  proverbial  mode 
of  grappling,  familiar  to  the  adjoining  county. 

"  This  is  all  very  well,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  so 
long  as  Devonshire  is  in  the  west  of  England,  and  Scotland 
lies  north  of  the  Tweed.  Sir  Wycherly  might  as  well  leave 
the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  Duke  and  his  regulars,  if  it 
were  only  in  the  way  of  letting  every  man  follow  his  own 
trade." 

"  It  strikes  me  as  so  singularly  insolent  in  a  base-born 
boy  like  this,  pretending  to  the  English  crown,  that  I  can 
barely  speak  of  him  with  patience  !  We  all  know  that  his 
father  was  a  changeling,  and  the  son  of  a  changeling  can 
have  no  more  right  than  the  father  himself.  I  do  not  re 
member  what  the  law  terms  such  pretenders ;  but  I  dare  say 
it  is  something  sufficiently  odious." 

"  Filius  nullius,  Thomas,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  with  a 
little  eagerness  to  show  his  learning.  "  That 's  the  very 
phrase.  I  have  it  from  the  first  authority  ;  my  late  brother, 
Baron  Wychecombe,  giving  it  to  me  with  his  own  mouth,  on 
an  occasion  that  called  for  an  understanding  of  such  mat- 
ters.  The  judge  was  a  most  accurate  lawyer,  particularly 
in  all  that  related  to  names ;  and  I  '11  engage,  if  he  were  liv 
ing  at  this  moment,  he  would  tell  you  the  legal  appellation 
of  a  changeling  ought  to  bejilius  nullius." 

In  spite  of  his  native  impudence,  and  an  innate  determina 
tion  to  make  his  way  in  the  world,  without  much  regard  to 
truth,  Tom  Wychecombe  felt  his  cheek  burn  so  much,  at 
this  innocent  allusion  of  his  reputed  uncle,  that  he  was  ac 
tually  obliged  to  turn  away  his  face,  in  order  to  conceal  his 
confusion.  Had  any  moral  delinquency  of  his  own  been 
implicated  in  the  remark,  he  might  have  found  means  to 
steel  himself  against  its  consequences  ;  but,  as  is  only  too 
often  the  case,  he  was  far  more  ashamed  of  a  misfortune  ovei 
which  he  had  no  possible  control,  than  he  would  have  beei? 
of  a  crime  for  which  he  was  strictly  responsible  in  morals 
Sir  Gervaise  smiled  at  Sir  Wycherly's  knowledge  of  lav» 
terms,  not  to  say  of  Latin  ;  and  turning  good-humouredl^ 
8* 


90  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

to  his  friend  the  rear-admiral,  anxious  to  re-establish  friendly 
relations  with  him,  he  said  with  well-concealed  irony — 

"  Sir  Wycherly  must  be  right,  Bluewater.  A  changeling 
(s  nobody — that  is  to  say,  he  is  not  the  body  he  pretends  to 
be,  which  is  substantially  being  nobody  —  and  the  son  of 
nobody,  is  clearly  ajilius  nullius.  And  now  having  settled 
what  may  be  called  the  law  of  the  case,  I  demand  a  truce, 
until  we  get  our  nuts — for  as  to  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe's 
having  his  nut  to  crack,  at  least  to-day,  I  take  it  there  are 
too  many  loyal  subjects  in  the  north.'' 

When  men  know  each  other  as  well  as  was  the  case  with 
our  two  admirals,  there  are  a  thousand  secret  means  of  an 
noyance,  as  well  as  of  establishing  amity.  Admiral  Blue- 
water  was  well  aware  that  Sir  Gervaise  was  greatly  superior 
to  the  vulgar  whig  notion  of  the  day,  which  believed  in  the 
fabricated  tale  of  the  Pretender's  spurious  birth ;  and  the  se 
cret  and  ironical  allusion  he  had  made  to  his  impression  on 
that  subject,  acted  as  oil  to  his  own  chafed  spirit,  disposing 
him  to  moderation.  This  had  been  the  intention  of  the 
other  ;  and  the  smiles  they  exchanged,  sufficiently  proved 
that  their  usual  mental  intercourse  was  temporarily  restored 
at  least. 

Deference  to  his  guests  made  Sir  Wycherly  consent  to 
change  the  subject,  though  he  was  a  little  mystified  with  the 
obvious  reluctance  of  the  two  admirals  to  speak  of  an  enter 
prise  that  ought  to  be  uppermost,  according  to  his  notion  of 
the  matter,  in  every  Englishman's  mind.  Tom  had  re 
ceived  a  rebuke  that  kept  him  silent  during  the  rest  of  the 
dinner  ;  while  the  others  were  content  to  eat  and  drink,  as  if 
nothing  had  happened. 

It  is  seldom  that  a  party  takes  its  seat  at  table  without 
some  secret  manoeuvring,  as  to  the  neighbourhood,  when 
the  claims  of  rank  and  character  do  not  interfere  with  personal 
wishes.  Sir  Wycherly  had  placed  Sir  Gervaise  on  his  right 
and  Mrs.  Button  on  his  left.  But  Admiral  Bluewater  had 
escaped  from  his  control,  and  taken  his  seat  next  to  Mil 
dred,  who  had  been  placed  by  Tom  Wychecombe  close  to 
himself,  at  the  foot  of  the  table.  W'ycheriy  occupied  the  seat 
opposite,  and  this  compelled  Button,  and  Mr.  Rotherham, 
the  vicar,  to  fill  the  other  two  chairs.  The  good  baronet 
had  made  a  wry  face,  at  seeing  a  rear-admiral  so  unwor- 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  91 

thily  bestowed ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  assuring  him  that  his 
friend  was  never  so  happy  as  when  in  the  service  of  beauty, 
he  was  fain  to  submit  to  the  arrangement. 

That  Admiral  liluewater  was  struck  with  Mildred's  beauty, 
and  pleased  with  her  natural  and  feminine  manner,  one  al 
together  superior  to  what  might  have  been  expected  from 
her  station  in  life,  was  very  apparent  to  all  at  table ;  though 
it  was  quite  impossible  to  mistake  his  parental  and  frank  air 
for  any  other  admiration  than  that  which  was  suitable  to 
the  difference  in  years,  and  in  unison  with  their  respective 
conditions  and  experience.  Mrs.  Button,  so  far  from  taking 
the  alarm  at  the  rear-admiral's  attentions,  felt  gratification 
in  observing  them ;  and  perhaps  she  experienced  a  secret 
pride  in  the  consciousness  of  their  being  so  well  merited.  It 
has  been  said,  already,  that  she  was,  herself,  the  daughter 
of  a  land-steward  of  a  nobleman,  in  an  adjoining  county ; 
but  it  may  be  well  to  add,  here,  that  she  had  been  so  great 
a  favourite  with  the  daughters  of  her  father's  employer,  as 
to  have  been  admitted,  in  a  measure,  to  their  society ;  and 
to  have  enjoyed  some  of  the  advantages  of  their  education. 
Lady  Wilmeter,  the  mother  of  the  young  ladies,  to  whom 
she  was  admitted  as  a  sort  of  humble  companion,  had  formed 
the  opinion  it  might  be  an  advantage  to  the  girl  to  educate 
her  for  a  governess ;  little  conceiving,  in  her  own  situation, 
that  she  was  preparing  a  course  of  life  for  Martha  Ray,  for 
such  was  Mrs.  Button's  maiden  name,  that  was  perhaps  the 
least  enviable  of  all  the  careers  that  a  virtuous  and  intelli 
gent  female  can  run.  This  was,  as  education  and  govern 
esses  were  appreciated  a  century  ago  ;  the  world,  with  all 
its  faults  and  sophisms,  having  unquestionably  made  a  vast 
stride  towards  real  civilization,  and  moral  truths,  in  a  thou 
sand  important  interests,  since  that  time.  Nevertheless,  the 
education  was  received,  together  with  a  good  many  tastes,  and 
sentiments,  and  opinions,  which  it  may  well  be  questioned, 
whether  they  contributed  most  to  the  happiness  or  unhappi- 
ness  of  the  pupil,  in  her  future  life.  Frank  Button,  then  a 
handsome,  though  far  from  polished  young  sea-lieutenant, 
interfered  with  the  arrangement,  by  making  Martha  Ray 
his  wife,  when  she  was  two-and-twenty.  This  'match  was 
suitable,  in  all  respects,  with  the  important  exception  of  the 
educations  and  characters  of  the  parties.  Still,  as  a  woman 


02  THETWOADMIRALS. 

may  well  be  more  refined,  and  in  some  things,  even  more  in 
telligent  than  her  husband  ;  and  as  sailors,  in  the  commence 
ment  of  the  eighteenth  century,  formed  a  class  of  society  much 
more  distinct  than  they  do  to-day,  there  would  huve  been 
nothing  absolutely  incompatible  with  the  future  well-being 
of  the  young  couple,  had  each  pursued  his,  or  her  own 
career,  in  a  manner  suitable  to  their  respective  duties. 
Young  Button  had  taken  away  his  bride,  with  the  two  thou 
sand  pounds  she  had  received  from  her  father,  and  for  a  long 
lime  he  was  seen  no  more  in  his  native  county.  After  an 
absence  of  some  twenty  years,  however,  he  returned,  broken 
in  constitution,  and  degraded  in  rank,  to  occupy  the  station 
he  filled  at  the  opening  of  this  tale.  Mrs.  Button  brought 
with  her  one  child,  the  beautiful  girl  introduced  to  the  reader, 
and  to  whom  she  was  studiously  imparting  all  she  had  her 
self  acquired,  in  the  adventitious  manner  mentioned.  Such 
were  the  means,  by  which  Mildred,  like  her  mother,  had 
been  educated  above  her  condition  in  life  ;  and  it  had  been 
remarked  that,  though  Mrs.  Button  had  probably  no  cause 
to  felicitate  herself  on  the  possession  of  manners  and  senti 
ments  that  met  with  so  little  sympathy,  or  appreciation,  in 
her  actual  situation,  she  assiduously  cultivated  the  same 
manners  and  opinions  in  her  daughter;  frequently  mani 
festing  a  sort  of  sickly  fastidiousness  on  the  subject  of 
Mildred's  deportment  and  tastes.  It  is  probable  the  girl 
owed  her  improvement  in  both,  however,  more  to  the  cir 
cumstance  of  her  being  left  so  much  alone  with  her  mother, 
than  to  any  positive  lessons  she  received ;  the  influence  of 
example,  for  years,  producing  its  usual  effects. 

No  one  in  Wychecombe  positively  knew  the  history  of 
Button's  professional  degradation.  He  had  never  risen 
higher  than  to  be  a  lieutenant ;  and  from  this  station  he  had 
fallen  by  the  sentence  of  a  court-martial.  His  restoration 
to  the  service,  in  the  humbler  and  almost  hopeless  rank  of 
a  master,  was  believed  to  have  been  brought  about  by  Mrs. 
Button's  influence  with  the  present  Lord  Wilmeter,  who  was 
the  brother  of  her  youthful  companions.  That  the  husband 
had  wasted  his  means,  was  as  certain  as  that  his  habits,  on 
the  score  of  temperance  at  least,  were  bad,  and  that  his 
wife,  if  not  positively  broken-hearted,  was  an  unhappy  wo 
man;  one  to  be  pitied,  and  admired.  Sir  Wycheriy  w»« 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  93 

little  addicted  to  analysis,  but  he  could  not  fail  to  discover 
the  superiority  of  the  wife  and  daughter,  over  the  husband 
and  father;  and  it  is  due  to  his  young  namesake  to  add, 
that  his  obvious  admiration  of  Mildred  was  quite  as  much 
owing  to  her  mind,  deportment,  character,  and  tastes,  as  to 
her  exceeding  personal  charms. 

This  little  digression  may  perhaps,  in  the  reader's  eyes, 
excuse  the  interest  Admiral  Bluewater  took  in  our  heroine 
With  the  indulgence  of  years  and  station,  and  the  tact  of  a 
man  of  the  world,  he  succeeded  in  drawing  Mildred  out, 
without  alarming  her  timidity ;  and  he  was  surprised  at  dis 
covering  the  delicacy  of  her  sentiments,  and  the  accuracy 
of  her  knowledge.  He  was  too  conversant  with  society,  and 
had  too  much  good  taste,  to  make  any  deliberate  parade  of 
opinions ;  but  in  the  quiet  manner  that  is  so  easy  to  those 
who  are  accustomed  to  deal  with  truths  and  tastes  as  familial 
things,  he  succeeded  in  inducing  her  to  answer  his  own  re 
marks,  to  sympathize  with  his  feelings,  to  laugh  when  he 
laughed,  and  to  assume  a  look  of  disapproval,  when  he  felt 
that  disapprobation  was  just.  To  all  this  Wycherly  was  a 
delighted  witness,  and  in  some  respects  he  participated  in 
the  conversation ;  for  there  was  evidently  no  wish  on  the 
part  of  the  rear-admiral  to  monopolize  his  beautiful  com 
panion  to  himself.  Perhaps  the  position  of  the  young  man, 
directly  opposite  to  her,  aided  in  inducing  Mildred  to  be 
stow  so  many  grateful  looks  and  sweet  smiles,  on  the  older 
officer;  for  she  could  not  glance  across  the  table,  without 
meeting  the  admiring  gaze  of  Wycherly,  fastened  on  her 
own  blushing  face. 

It  is  certain,  if  our  heroine  did  not,  during  this  repast, 
make  a  conquest  of  Admiral  Bluewater,  in  the  ordinary 
meaning  of  the  term,  that  she  made  him  a  friend.  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  even,  was  struck  with  the  singular  and  devoted  man- 
ner  in  which  his  old  messmate  gave  all  his  attention  to  the 
beautiful  girl  at  his  side ;  and,  once  or  twice,  he  caught 
himself  conjecturing  whether  it  were  possible,  that  one  as 
practised,  as  sensible,  and  as  much  accustomed  to  the  beau 
ties  of  the  court,  as  Bluewater,  had  actually  been  caught,  by 
the  pretty  face  of  a  country  girl,  when  so  well  turned  of 
fifty,  himself!  Then  discarding  the  notion  as  preposterous, 
ke  gave  his  attention  to  the  discourse  of  Sir  Wycherly ;  a 


04  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

dissertation  on  rabbits,  and  rabbit-warrens.  In  this  manner 
the  dinner  passed  away. 

Mrs.  Dutton  asked  her  host's  permission  to  retire,  with  her 
daughter,  at  the  earliest  moment  permitted  by  propriety.  In 
quitting  the  room  she  cast  an  anxious  glance  at  the  face  of 
her  husband,  which  was  already  becoming  flushed  with  his 
frequent  applications  of  port  ;  and  spite  of  an  effort  to  look 
smiling  and  cheerful,  her  lips  quivered,  and  by  the  time  she 
and  Mildred  reached  the  drawing-room,  tears  were  fast  fall 
ing  down  her  cheeks.  No  explanation  was  asked,  or  needed, 
by  the  daughter,  who  threw  herself  into  her  mother's  arms, 
and  for  several  minutes  they  wept  together,  in  silence. 
Never  had  Mrs.  Dutton  spoken,  even  to  Mildred,  of  the  be 
setting  and  degrading  vice  of  her  husband  ;  but  it  had  been 
impossible  to  conceal  its  painful  consequences  from  the 
world ;  much  less  from  one  who  lived  in  the  bosom  of  her 
family.  On  that  failing  which  the  wife  treated  so  tenderly, 
the  daughter  of  course  could  not  touch  ;  but  the  silent  com 
munion  of  tears  had  got  to  be  so  sweet  to  both,  that,  within 
the  last  year,  it  was  of  very  frequent  occurrence. 

"  Really,  Mildred,"  said  the  mother,  at  length,  after  hav 
ing  succeeded  in  suppressing  her  emotion,  and  in  drying  her 
eyes,  while  she  smiled  fondly  in  the  face  of  the  lovely  and 
affectionate  girl ;  "  this  Admiral  Bluewater  is  getting  to  be 
so  particular,  I  hardly  know  how  to  treat  the  matter." 

"  Oh  !  mother,  he  is  a  delightful  old  gentleman !  and  he  is 
so  gentle,  while  he  is  so  frank,  that  he  wins  your  confidence 
almost  before  you  know  it.  I  wonder  if  he  could  have  been 
serious  in  what  he  said  about  the  noble  daring  and  noble 
deserving  of  Prince  Edward  !" 

"That  must  pass  for  trifling,  of  course;  the  ministry 
would  scarcely  employ  any  but  a  true  whig,  in  command 
of  a  fleet.  I  saw  several  of  his  family,  when  a  girl,  and 
have  always  heard  them  spoken  of  with  esteem  and  respect. 
Lord  Bluewater,  this  gentleman's  cousin,  was  very  intimate 
with  the  present  Lord  Wilmeter,  and  was  often  at  the  castle. 
I  remember  to  have  heard  that  he  had  a  disappointment  in 
love,  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  that  he  has  ever  since 
been  considered  a  confirmed  bachelor.  So  you  will  take 
beed,  my  love." 

"  The  warning  was  unnecessary,  dear  mother,"  returned 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  9S 

Mildred,  laughing  ;  "  I  could  dote  on  the  admiral  as  a  father, 
but  must  be  excused  from  considering  him  young  enough 
for  a  nearer  tie." 

"  And  yet  lie  has  the  much-admired  profession,  Mildred," 
said  the  mother,  smiling  fondly,  and  yet  a  little  archly.  *'  I 
have  often  heard  you  speak  of  your  passion  for  the  sea." 

'*  That  was  formerly,  mother,  when  I  spoke  as  a  sailor's 
daughter,  and  as  girls  are  apt  to  speak,  without  much  re- 
flection.  I  do  not  know  that  I  think  better  of  a  seaman's 
profession,  now,  than  I  do  of  any  other.  I  fear  there  is 
often  much  misery  in  store  for  soldiers'  and  sailors'  wives." 

Mrs.  Button's  lip  quivered  again ;  but  hearing  a  foot  at 
the  door,  she  made  an  effort  to  be  composed,  just  as  Admiral 
Bluewater  entered. 

"  I  have  run  away  from  the  bottle,  Mrs.  Button,  to  join 
you  and  your  fair  daughter,  as  I  would  run  from  an  enemy 
of  twice  my  force,"  he  said,  giving  each  lady  a  hand,  in  a 
manner  so  friendly,  as  to  render  the  act  more  than  gracious  ; 
for  it -was  kind.  "  Oakes  is  bowsing  up  his  jib  with  his 
brother  baronet,  as  we  sailors  say,  and  I  have  hauled  out 
of  the  line,  without  a  signal." 

"  I  hope  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  does  not  consider  it  neces 
sary  to  drink  more  wine  than  is  good  for  the  mind  and 
body,"  observed  Mrs.  Button,  with  a  haste  that  she  immedi 
ately  regretted. 

"  Not  he.  Gervaise  Oakes  is  as  discreet  a  man,  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  table,  as  an  anchorite  ;  and  yet  he  has  a 
faculty  of  seeming  to  drink,  that  makes  him  a  boon  com 
panion  for  a  four-bottle  man.  How  the  deuce  he  does  it,  is 
more  than  I  can  tell  you  ;  but  lie  does  it  so  well,  that  he 
does  not  more  thoroughly  get  the  better  of  the  king's  ene 
mies,  on  the  high  seas,  than  he  floors  his  friends  under  the 
table.  Sir  Wycherly  has  begun  his  libations  in  honour  of 
the  house  of  Hanover,  and  they  will  be  likely  to  make  a 
long  sitting." 

Mrs.  Button  sighed,  and  walked  away  to  a  window,  to 
conceal  the  paleness  of  her  cheeks.  Admiral  Bluewater, 
though  perfectly  abstemious  himself,  regarded  license  with 
the  bottle  after  dinner,  like  most  men  of  that  age,  as  a  very 
venial  weakness,  and  he  quietly  took  a  seat  by  the  side  of 
Mildred,  and  began  to  converse. 


»*6  THETWOADMIRALS. 

"  I  hope,  young  lady,  as  a  sailor's  child,  you  feel  an  he 
reditary  indulgence  for  a  seaman's  gossip,"  he  said.  "  We, 
who  are  so  much  shut  up  in  our  ships,  have  a  poverty  of 
ideas  on  most  subjects ;  and  as  to  always  talking  of  the 
winds  and  waves,  that  would  fatigue  even  a  poet." 

"  As  a  sailor's  daughter,  I  honour  my  father's  calling, 
sir  ;  and  as  an  English  girl,  I  venerate  the  brave  defenders 
of  the  island.  Nor  do  I  know  that  seamen  have  less  to  say, 
than  other  men." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  confess  this,  for — shall  I  be  frank 
with  you,  and  take  a  liberty  that  would  better  become  a 
friend  of  a  dozen  years,  than  an  acquaintance  of  a  day ; — 
and,  yet,  I  know  not  why  it  is  so,  my  dear  child,  but  I  feel 
as  if  I  had  long  known  you,  though  I  am  certain  we  never 
met  before." 

"  Perhaps,  sir,  it  is  an  omen  that  we  are  long  to  know 
each  other,  in  future,"  said  Mildred,  with  the  winning  confi 
dence  of  unsuspecting  and  innocent  girlhood.  "  I  hope  you 
will  use  no  reserve." 

"  Well,  then,  at  the  risk  of  making  a  sad  blunder,  I  will 
just  say,  that  '  my  nephew  Tom'  is  anything  but  a  prepos 
sessing  youth ;  and  that  I  hope  all  eyes  regard  him  exactly 
as  he  appears  to  a  sailor  of  fifty-five." 

"  I  cannot  answer  for  more  than  those  of  a  girl  of  nine 
teen,  Admiral  Bluewater,"  said  Mildred,  laughing ;  "  but, 
for  her,  I  think  I  may  say  that  she  does  not  look  on  him  as 
either  an  Adonis,  or  a  Crichton." 

"  Upon  my  soul !  I  am  right  glad  to  hear  this,  for  the 
fellow  has  accidental  advantages  enough  to  render  him  for 
midable.  He  is  the  heir  to  the  baronetcy,  and  this  estate,  I 
believe  ?" 

"  I  presume  he  is.  Sir  Wycherly  has  no  other  nephew 
— or  at  least  this  is  the  eldest  of  three  brothers,  I  am  told — 
and,  being  childless  himself,  it  must  be  so.  My  father  tells 
me  Sir  Wycherly  speaks  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  as 
his  future  heir." 

"Your  father!  —  Ay,  fathers  look  on  these  matters  with 
eyes  very  different  from  their  daughters  !" 

"  There  is  one  thing  about  seamen  that  renders  them  at 
least  safe  acquaintances,"  said  Mildred,  smiling ;  "  I  mean 
their  frankness." 


THET  WO     ADMIRALS.  97 

"  That  is  a  failing  of  mine,  as  I  have  heard.  But  you 
will  pardon  an  indiscretion  that  arises  in  the  interest  I  feel 
in  yourself.  The  eldest  of  three  brothers — is  the  lieutenant, 
then,  a  younger  son  1" 

"  He  does  not  belong  to  the  family  at  all,  I  believe,"  Mil 
dred  answered,  colouring  slightly,  in  spite  of  a  resolute  de 
termination  to  appear  unconcerned.  "  Mr.  Wycherly  Wyche- 
combe  is  no  relative  of  our  host,  I  hear ;  though  he  bears 
both  of  his  names.  He  is  from  the  colonies  ;  born  in  Vir 
ginia." 

"  He  is  a  noble,  and  a  noble-looking  fellow  !  Wers  I  the 
baronet,  I  would  break  the  entail,  rather  than  the  acres 
should  go  to  that  sinister-looking  nephew,  and  bestow  them 
on  the  namesake.  From  Virginia,  and  not  even  a  relative, 
at  all  ?" 

"  That  is  what  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  says ;  and  even 
Sir  Wycherly  confirms  it.  I  have  never  heard  Mr.  Wy 
cherly  Wychecombe  speak  on  the  subject,  himself." 

"  A  weakness  of  poor  human  nature  !  The  lad  finds  an 
honourable,  ancient,  and  affluent  family  here,  and  has  not 
the  courage  to  declare  his  want  of  affinity  to  it ;  happening 
to  bear  the  same  name." 

Mildred  hesitated  about  replying ;  but  a  generous  feeling 
got  the  better  of  her  diffidence.  "  I  have  never  seen  any 
thing  in  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe  to 
induce  me  to  think  that  he  feels  any  such  weakness,"  she 
said,  earnestly.  "  He  seems  rather  to  take  pride  in,  thap 
to  feel  ashamed  of,  his  being  a  colonial ;  and  you  know,  we, 
in  England,  hardly  look  on  the  people  of  the  colonies  as 
our  equals." 

"  And  have  you,  young  lady,  any  of  that  overweening 
prejudice  in  favour  of  your  own  island  ?" 

"  I  hope  not ;  but  I  think  most  persons  have.  Mr. 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  admits  that  Virginia  is  inferior  to 
England,  in  a  thousand  things ;  and  yet  he  seems  to  take 
pride  in  his  birth-place." 

"  Every  sentiment  of  this  nature  is  to  be  traced  to  self. 
We  know  that  the  fact  is  irretrievable,  and  struggle  to  be 
proud  of  what  we  cannot  help.  The  Turk  will  tell  you  he 
has  the  honour  to  be  a  native  of  Stamboul ;  the  Parisian 
will  boast  of  his  Faubourg  ;  and  the  cockney  exults  in  Wap- 
9 


98  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ping.  Personal  conceit  lies  at  the  bottom  of  all ;  for  we 
fancy  that  places  to  which  we  belong,  are  not  places  to  be 
ashamed  of." 

"  And  yet  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Wycherly  at  all  remarka 
ble  for  conceit.  On  the  contrary,  he  is  rather  diffident  and 
unassuming." 

This  was  said  simply,  but  so  sincerely,  as  to  induce  the 
listener  to  fasten  his  penetrating  blue  eye  on  the  speaker, 
whc  now  first  took  the  alarm,  and  felt  that  she  might  have  said 
too  much.  At  this  moment  the  two  young  men  entered,  and 
a  servant  appeared  to  request  that  Admiral  Bluewater  would 
do  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  the  favour  to  join  him,  in  the  dress 
ing-room  of  the  latter. 

Tom  Wychecombe  reported  the  condition  of  the  dinner- 
table  to  be  such,  as  to  render  it  desirable  for  all  but  three 
and  four-bottle  men  to  retire.  Hanoverian  toasts  and  senti 
ments  were  in  the  ascendant,  and  there  was  every  appear 
ance  that  those  who  remained  intended  to  make  a  night  of 
it.  This  was  sad  intelligence  for  Mrs.  Dutlon,  who  had 
come  forward  eagerly  to  hear  the  report,  but  who  now  re 
turned  to  the  window,  apparently  irresolute  as  to  the  course 
she  ought  to  take.  As  both  the  young  men  remained  near 
Mildred  to  converse,  she  had  sufficient  opportunity  to  come 
to  her  decision,  without  interruption,  or  hindrance. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

"  Somewhat  we  will  do. 

And,  look,  when  I  am  king,  claim  thou  of  me 
The  earldom  of  Hereford,  and  all  the  moveables 
Whereof  the  king  my  brother  was  possessed." 

RICHARD  III. 

REAR-ADMIRAL  BLUEWATER  found  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes 
pacing  a  large  dressing-room,  quarter-deck  fashion,  with  as 
much  zeal,  as  if  just  released  from  a  long  sitting,  on  official 
duty,  in  his  own  cabin.  As  the  two  officers  were  perfectly 


THE    TWO    ADMIRAL  8.  99 

familiar  with  each  other's  personal  habits,  neither  deviated 
from  his  particular  mode  of  indulging  his  ease ;  but  the  last 
comer  quietly  took  his  seat  in  a  large  chair,  disposing  of  his 
person  in  a  way  to  show  he  intended  to  consult  his  comfort, 
let  what  would  happen. 

"  Bluewater,"  commenced  Sir  Gervaise,  "  this  is  a  very 
foolish  affair  of  the  Pretender's  son,  and  can  only  lead  to  his 
destruction.  I  look  upon  it  as  altogether  unfortunate." 

"  That,  as  it  may  terminate.  No  man  can  tell  what  a 
day,  or  an  hour,  may  bring  forth.  I  am  sure,  such  a  rising 
was  one  of  the  last  things  /  have  been  anticipating,  down 
yonder,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay." 

"  I  wish,  with  all  my  heart,  we  had  never  left  it,"  mut 
tered  Sir  Gervaise,  so  low  that  his  companion  did  not  hear 
him.  Then  he  added,  in  a  louder  tone,  "  Our  duty,  how 
ever,  is  very  simple.  We  have  only  to  obey  orders  j  and  it 
seems  that  the  young  man  has  no  naval  force  to  sustain 
him.  We  shall  probably  be  sent  to  watch  Brest,  or  1'Orient, 
or  some  other  port.  Monsieur  must  be  kept  in,  let  what 
will  happen." 

"  I  rather  think  it  would  be  better  to  let  him  out,  our 
chances  on  the  high  seas  being  at  least  as  good  as  his  own. 
I  am  no  friend  to  blockades,  which  strike  me  as  an  un- 
English  mode  of  carrying  on  a  war." 

"  You  are  right  enough,  Dick,  in  the  main,"  returned  Sir 
Gervaise,  laughing. 

.  '« Ay,  and  on  the  main,  Oakes.  I  sincerely  hope  the 
First  Lord  will  not  send  a  man  like  you,  who  are  every  way 
so  capable  of  giving  an  account  of  your  enemy  with  plenty 
of  sea-room,  on  duty  so  scurvy  as  a  blockade." 

"  A  man  like  me!  Why  a  man  like  me,  in  particular? 
I  trust  I  am  to  have  the  pleasure  of  Admiral  Bluewater's 
company,  advice,  and  assistance  ?" 

"  An  inferior  never  can  know,  Sir  Gervaise,  where  it  may 
suit  the  pleasure  of  his  superiors  to  order  him." 

"  That  distinction  of  superior  and  inferior,  Bluewater,  will 
one  day  lead  you  into  a  confounded  scrape,  I  fear.  If  you 
consider  Charles  Stuart  your  sovereign,  it  is  not  probable 
that  orders  issued  by  a  servant  of  King  George  will  be  much 
respected.  I  hope  you  will  do  nothing  hastily,  or  without 
consulting  your  oldest  and  truest  friend  !" 


100  THE     TWO     ADM  III  A  LS. 

"You  know  my  sentiments,  and  there  is  little  use  in 
dwelling  on  them,  now.  So  long  as  the  quarrel  was  between 
my  own  country  and  a  foreign  land,  I  have  been  content  to 
serve ;  but  when  my  lawful  prince,  or  his  son  and  heir, 
comes  in  this  gallant  and  chivalrous  manner,  throwing  him 
self,  as  it  might  be,  into  the  very  arms  of  his  subjects,  con 
fiding  all  to  their  loyalty  and  spirit ;  it  makes  such  an  appeal 
to  every  nobler  feeling,  that  the  heart  finds  it  difficult  to  re 
pulse.  I  could  have  joined  Norris,  with  right  good  will,  in 
dispersing  and  destroying  the  armament  that  Louis  XV.  was 
sending  against  us,  in  this  very  cause ;  but  here  every  thing 
is  English,  and  Englishmen  have  the  quarrel  entirely  to 
themselves.  I  do  not  see  how,  as  a  loyal  subject  of  my 
hereditary  prince,  I  can  well  refrain  from  joining  his  stand 
ard." 

"  And  would  you,  Dick  Bluewater,  who,  to  my  certain 
knowledge,  were  sent  on  board  ship  at  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  who,  for  more  than  forty  years,  have  been  a  man-of- 
war's-man,  body  and  soul ;  would  you  now  strip  your  old 
hulk  of  the  sea-blue  that  has  so  long  covered  and  become  it, 
rig  yourself  out  like  a  soldier,  with  a  feather  in  your  hat,— 

ay,  d e,  and  a  camp-kettle  on  your  arm,  and  follow  a 

drummer,  like  one  of  your  kinsmen,  Lord  Bluewater's  fel 
lows  of  the  guards'? — for  of  sailors,  your  lawful  prince,  as 
you  call  him,  hasn't  enough  to  stopper  his  conscience,  or  to 
whip  the  tail  of  his  coat,  to  keep  it  from  being  torn  to  tat 
ters  by  the  heather  of  Scotland.  If  you  do  follow  the  ad 
venturer,  it  must  be  in  some  such  character,  since  I  question 
if  he  can  muster  a  seaman,  to  tell  him  the  bearings  of  Lon 
don  from  Perth." 

"  When  I  join  him,  he  will  be  better  off." 

"  And  what  could  even  you  do  alone,  among  a  parcel  of 
Scotchmen,  running  about  their  hills  under  bare  poles  ?  Your 
signals  will  not  manoeuvre  regiments,  and  as  for  manoeuvring 
in  any  other  manner,  you  know  nothing.  No — no  ;  stay 
where  you  are,  and  help  an  old  friend  with  knowledge  that 
is  useful  to  him. — I  should  be  afraid  to  do  a  dashing  thing, 
unless  I  felt  the  certainty  of  having  you  in  my  van,  to  strike 
the  first  blow  ;  or  in  my  rear,  to  bring  me  off,  handsomely." 

"You    would    be   afraid   of   nothing,   Gervaise   Oakes, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  101 

whether  I  stood  at  your   elbow,  or  were  off  in  Scotland. 
Fear  is  not  your  failing,  though  temerity  may  be." 

"  Then  I  want  your  presence  to  keep  me  within  the  bounds 
of  reason,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  stopping  short  in  his  walk, 
and  looking  his  friend  smilingly  in  the  face.  "  In  some 
mode,  or  other,  I  always  need  your  aid." 

"  I  understand  the  meaning  of  your  words,  Sir  Gervaise, 
and  appreciate  the  feeling  that  dictates  them.  You  must 
have  a  perfect  conviction  that.  I  will  do  nothing  hastily,  and 
that  I  will  betray  no  trust.  When  I  turn  my  back  on  King 
George,  it  will  be  loyally,  in  one  sense,  whatever  he  may 
think  of  it  in  another ;  and  when  I  join  Prince  Charles  Ed 
ward,  it  will  be  with  a  conscience  that  he  need  not  be 
ashamed  to  probe  What  names  he  bears  !  They  are  the 
designations  of  ancient  English  sovereigns,  and  ought  of 
themselves,  to  awaken  the  sensibilities  of  Englishmen." 

"  Ay,  Charles  in  particular,"  returned  the  vice-admiral, 
with  something  like  a  sneer.  "  There's  the  second  Charles, 
for  instance — St.  Charles,  as  our  good  host,  Sir  Wycherly, 
might  call  him  —  he  is  a  pattern  prince  for  Englishmen  to 
admire.  Then  his  father  was  of  the  school  of  the  Star- 
Cnamber  martyrs  !" 

"  Both  were  lineal  descendants  of  the  Conqueror,  and  of 
the  Saxon  princes ;  and  both  united  the  double  titles  to  the 
throne,  in  their  sacred  persons.  I  have  always  considered 
Charles  II.  as  the  victim  of  the  rebellious  conduct  of  his 
subjects,  rather  than  vicious.  He  was  driven  abroad  into  a 
most  corrupt  state  of  society,  and  was  perverted  by  our 
wickedness.  As  to  the  father,  he  was  the  real  St.  Charles, 
and  a  martyred  saint  he  was ;  dying  for  true  religion,  as 
we(l  as  for  his  legal  rights.  Then  the  Edwards — glorious 
fellows! — remember  that  they  were  all  but  one  Plantage- 
tiets ;  a  name,  of  itself,  to  rouse  an  Englishman's  fire  !" 

"  And  yet  the  only  difference  between  the  right  of  these 
very  Plantagenets  to  the  throne,  and  that  of  the  reigning 
prince,  is,  that  one  produced  a  revolution  by  the  strong  hand, 
and  ths  other  was  produced  by  a  revolution  that  came  from 
the  nation.  I  do  not  know  that  your  Plantagenets  ever  did 
any  thing  for  a  navy ;  the  only  real  source  of  England's 

power  and  glory.     D e,  Dick,  if  I  think  so  much  of 

your  Plantagenets,  after  all !" 
9* 


102  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  And  yet  the  name  of  Oakes  is  to  be  met  with  among 
their  bravest  knights,  and  most  faithful  followers." 

"  The  Oakes,  like  the  pines,  have  been  timbers  in  every 
ship  that  has  floated,"  returned  the  vice-admiral,  half-uncon 
scious  himself,  of  the  pun  he  was  making. 

For  more  than  a  minute  Sir  Gervaise  continued  his  walk, 
his  head  a  little  inclined  forward,  like  a  man  who  pondered 
deeply  on  some  matter  of  interest.  Then,  suddenly  stop 
ping,  he  turned  towards  his  friend,  whom  lie  regarded  for 
near  another  minute,  ere  he  resumed  the  discourse. 

"  I  wish  I  could  fairly  get  you  to  exerc:se  your  excellent 
reason  on  this  matter,  Dick,"  he  said,  after  the  pause ;  "  then 
I  should  be  certain  of  having  secured  you  on  the  side  of 
liberty." 

Admiral  Bluewater  merely  shook  his  Lead,  but  he  continued 
silent,  as  if  he  deemed  discussion  altogether  supereroga 
tory.  During  this  pause,  a  gentle  tap  at  the  door  announced 
a  visiter ;  and,  at  the  request  to  enter,  At  wood  made  his  ap 
pearance.  He  held  in  his  hand  a  large  package,  which 
bore  on  the  envelope  the  usual  stamp  that  indicated  it  was 
sent  on  public  service. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  Sir  Gervaise,"  commenced  the  secretary, 
who  always  proceeded  at  once  to  business*  when  business 
was  to  be  done  ;  "  but  His  Majesty's  service  will  not  admit 
of  delay.  This  packet  has  just  come  to  hand,  by  the  arrival 
of  an  express,  which  left  the  admiralty  only  yesterday  noon." 

"  And  how  the  devil  did  he  know  where  to  find  me !"  ex 
claimed  the  vice-admiral,  holding  out  a  hand  to  receive  the 
communication. 

"  It  is  all  owing  to  this  young  lieutenant's  forethought  in 
following  up  the  Jacobite  intelligence  to  a  market-town. 
The  courier  was  bound  to  Falmouth,  as  fast  as  post-horses 
could  carry  him,  when  he  heard,  luckily,  that  the  fleet  lay 
at  anchor,  under  Wychecombe  Head  ;  and,  quite  as  luckily, 
he  is  an  officer  who  had  the  intelligence  to  know  that  you 
would  sooner  get  the  despatches,  if  he  turned  aside,  and 
came  hither  by  land,  than  if  he  went  on  to  Falmouth,  got 
aboard  the  sloop  that  was  to  sail  with  him,  for  the  Bay  of 
Biscay,  and  came  round  here  by  water." 

Sir  Gervaise  smiled  at  this  sally,  which  was  one  in  keep, 
ing  with  all  Atwood's  feelings ;  for  the  secretary  had  ma^ 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  103 

lured  a  system  of  expresses,  which,  to  his  great  mortification, 
his  patron  laughed  at,  and  the  admiralty  entirely  overlooked. 
No  time  was  lost,  however,  in  the  way  of  business ;  the 
secretary  having  placed  the  candles  on  a  table,  where  Sir 
Gervaise  took  a  chair,  and  had  already  broken  a  seal.  The 
process  of  reading,  nevertheless,  was  suddenly  interrupted 
by  the  vice-admiral's  looking  up,  and  exclaiming — 

"  Why,  you  are  not  about  to  leave  us,  Blue  water  ?" 

"  You  may  have  private  business  with  Mr.  Atwood,  Sir 
Gervaise,  and  perhaps  I  had  better  retire." 

Now,  it  so  happened,  that  while  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had 
never,  by  look  or  syllable,  as  he  confidently  believed,  be 
trayed  the  secret  of  his  friend's  Jacobite  propensities, 
Atwood  was  perfectly  aware  of  their  existence.  Nor  had 
the  latter  obtained  his  knowledge  by  any  unworthy  means. 
He  had  been  neither  an  eavesdropper,  nor  an  inquirer  into 
private  communications,  as  so  often  happens  around  the  per 
sons  of  men  in  high  trusts  ;  all  his  knowledge  having  been 
obtained  through  native  sagacity  and  unavoidable  opportuni 
ties.  On  the  present  occasion,  the  secretary,  with  the  tact 
of  a  man  of  experience,  felt  that  his  presence  might  be  dis 
pensed  with ;  and  he  cut  short  the  discussion  between  the 
two  admirals,  by  a  very  timely  remark  of  his  own. 

"  I  have  left  the  letters  uncopied,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  said, 
"  and  will  go  and  finish  them.  A  message  by  Locker"— 
this  was  Sir  Gervaise's  body-servant — "  will  bring  me  back 
at  a  moment's  notice,  should  you  need  me  again  to-night." 

"  That  Atwood  has  a  surprising  instinct,  for  a  Scotch 
man  !"  exclaimed  the  vice-admiral,  as  soon  as  the  door  was 
closed  on  the  secretary.  "  He  not  only  knows  when  he  is 
wanted,  but  when  he  is  not  wanted.  The  last  is  an  extra 
ordinary  attainment,  for  one  of  his  nation." 

"  And  one  that,  an  Englishman  may  do  well  to  emulate,' 
returned  Bluewater.  "  It  is  possible  my  company  may  be 
dispensed  with,  also,  just  at  this  important  moment." 

"  You  are  not  so  much  afraid  of  the  Hanoverians,  Dick, 
as  to  run  away  from  their  hand- writing,  are  ye  !  Ha  — 
what 's  this? — As  I  live,  a  packet  for  yourself,  and  directed 
to  '  Rear- Admiral  Sir  Richard  Bluewater,  K.  B.'  By  the 
Lord,  my  old  boy,  they've  given  you  the  red  riband  at 


104  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS* 

last !     This  is  an  honour  well  earned,  and  which  may  be 
fitly  worn." 

"  '  Tis  rather  unexpected,  I  must  own.  The  letter,  how 
ever,  cannot  be  addressed  to  me,  as  I  am  not  a  knight  of 
the  Bath." 

"  This  is  rank  nonsense.  Open  the  packet,  at  once,  01  i 
will  do  it  for  you.  Are  there  two  Dick  Bluewaters  in  the 
world,  or  another  rear-admiral  of  the  same  name  T' 

"  I  would  rather  not  receive  a  letter  that  does  not  strictly 
bear  my  address,"  returned  the  other,  coldly. 

"  As  I  '11  be  sworn  this  does.  But  hand  it  to  me,  since 
you  are  so  scrupulous,  and  I  will  do  that  small  service  for 
you." 

As  this  was  said,  Sir  Gervaise  tore  aside  the  seals  ;  and, 
as  he  proceeded  rather  summarily,  a  red  riband  was  soon 
uncased  and  fell  upon  the  carpet.  The  other  usual  insignia 
of  the  Bath  made  their  appearance,  and  a  letter  was  found 
among  them,  to  explain  the  meaning  of  all.  Every  thing 
vas  in  due  form,  and  went  to  acquaint  Rear-Admiral  Blue- 
water,  that  His  Majesty  had  been  graciously  pleased  to  con 
fer  on  him  one  of  the  vacant  red  ribands  of  the  day,  as  a 
reward  for  his  eminent  services  on  different  occasions. 
There  was  even  a  short  communication  from  the  premier, 
expressing  the  great  satisfaction  of  the  ministry  in  thus  being 
able  to  second  the  royal  pleasure,  with  nearty  good  will. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  think  of  that,  Richard  Bluewater?" 
isked  Sir  Gervaise,  triumphantly.  "  Did  I  not  always  teli 
you,  that  sooner  or  later,  it  must  come." 

"  It  has  come  too  late,  then,"  coldly  returned  the  other, 
laying  the  riband,  jewels,  and  letters  quietly  on  the  table 
"  This  is  an  honour,  I  can  receive,  now,  only  from  mj 
rightful  prince.  None  other  can  legally  create  a  knight  of 
the  Bath." 

"  And  pray,  Mr.  Richard  Bluewaier,  who  made  you  a 
captain,  a  commander,  a  rear-admiral  ?  Do  you  believe  me 
an  impostor,  because  I  wear  this  riband  on  authority  no 
better  than  that  of  the  house  of  Hanover  ?  Am  I,  or  am  I 
not,  in  your  judgment,  a  vice-admiral  of  the  red?" 

"  I  make  a  great  distinction,  Oakes,  between  rank  in  the 
navy,  and  a  mere  personal  dignity.  In  the  one  case,  you 
serve  your  country,  and  give  quite  as  much  as  you  receive ; 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  105 

whereas,  in  the  other,  it  is  a  grace  to  confer  consideration 
on  the  person  honoured,  without  such  an  equivalent  as  can 
find  an  apology  for  accepting  a  rank  illegally  conferred." 

"  The  devil  take  your  distinctions,  which  would  unsettle 
every  thing,  and  render  the  service  a  Babel.  If  I  am  a 
vice-admiral  of  the  red,  I  am  a  knight  of  the  Bath ;  and,  if 
you  are  a  rear-admiral  of  the  white,  you  are  also  a  knight 
of  that  honourable  order.  All  comes  from  the  same  source 
of  authority,  and  the  same  fountain  of  honour." 

"  I  do  not  view  it  thus.  Our  commissions  are  from  the 
admiralty,  which  represents  the  country ;  but  dignities  come 
from  the  prince  who  happens  to  reign,  let  his  title  be  what 
it  may." 

"  Do  you  happen  to  think  Richard  III.  a  usurper,  or  a 
lawful  prince?" 

"  A  usurper,  out  of  all  question  ;  and  a  murderer  to  boot. 
His  name  should  be  struck  from  the  list  of  English  kings. 
I  never  hear  it,  without  execrating  him,  and  his  deeds." 

"  Pooh — pooh,  Dick,  this  is  talking  more  like  a  poet,  than 
a  seaman.  If  only  one-half  the  sovereigns  who  deserve  to 
be  execrated  had  their  names  erased,  the  list  of  even  our 
English  kings  would  be  rather  short ;  and  some  countries 
would  be  without  historical  kings  at  all.  However  much 
Richard  III.  may  deserve  cashiering  in  this  summary  man 
ner,  his  peers  and  laws  are  just  as  good  as  any  other 
prince's  peers  and  laws.  Witness  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  for 
instance." 

*'  Ay,  that  cannot  be  helped  by  me  ;  but  it  is  in  my  power 
to  prevent  Richard  Bluewater's  being  made  a  knight  of  the 
Bath,  by  George  II. ;  and  the  power  shall  be  used." 

"  It  would  seem  not,  as  he  is  already  created;  and  I  dare 
to  say,  gazetted." 

"  The  oaths  are  not  yet  taken,  and  it  is,  at  least,  an  Eng 
lishman's  birth-right,  to  decline  an  honour ;  if,  indeed,  this 
can  be  esteemed  an  honour,  at  all." 

*  Upon  my  word,  Rear- Admiral  Sir  Richard  Bluewater, 
you  are  disposed  to  be  complimentary,  to-night !  The  un 
worthy  knight  present,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  order,  are 
infinitely  indebted  to  you  !" 

"  Your  case  and  mine,  Oakes,  are  essentially  different," 
returned  the  other,  with  some  emotion  in  his  voice  and  man- 


106  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

nor.  "  Your  riband  was  fairly  won,  fighting  the  battles 
of  England,  and  can  be  worn  with  credit  to  yourself  and  to 
your  country  ;  but  these  baubles  are  sent  to  me,  at  a  mo 
ment  when  a  rising  was  foreseen,  and  as  a  sop  to  keep  me 
in  good-humour,  as  well  as  to  propitiate  the  whole  Blue- 
water  interest." 

"  That  is  pure  conjecture,  and  I  dare  say  will  prove  to  be 
altogether  a  mistake.  Here  are  the  despatches  to  speak  for 
themselves  ;  and,  as  it  is  scarcely  possible  that  the  ministry 
should  have  known  of  this  rash  movement  of  the  Pretender's 
son,  more  than  a  few  days,  my  life  on  it,  the  dates  will  show 
that  your  riband  was  bestowed  before  the  enterprise  was 
even  suspected." 

As  Sir  Gervaise commenced,  with  his  constitutional  ardour, 
to  turn  over  the  letters,  as  soon  as  his  mind  was  directed  to 
this  particular  object,  Admiral  Bluewater  resumed  his  seat, 
awaiting  the  result,  with  not  a  little  curiosity ;  though,  at 
the  same  time,  with  a  smile  of  incredulity.  The  examina 
tion  disappointed  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes.  The  dates  proved 
that  the  ministers  were  better  informed  than  he  had  sup. 
posed ;  for  it  appeared  they  had  been  apprised  about  the 
time  he  was  himself  of  the  intended  movement.  His  orders 
were  to  bring  the  fleet  north,  and  in  substance  to  do  the  very 
thing  his  own  sagacity  had  dictated.  So  far  every  thing 
was  well ;  and  he  could  not  entertain  a  doubt  about  receiv 
ing  the  hearty  approbation  of  his  superiors,  for  the  course 
he  had  taken.  But  here  his  gratification  ended  ;  for,  on 
looking  at  the  dates  of  the  different  communications,  it  was 
evident  that  the  red  riband  was  bestowed  after  the  intelli 
gence  of  the  Pretender's  movement  had  reached  London.  A 
private  letter,  from  a  friend  at  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  too, 
spoke  of  his  own  probable  promotion  to  the  rank  of  admiral 
of  the  blue ;  and  mentioned  several  other  similar  pre 
ferments,  in  a  way  to  show  that  the  government  was  fortify 
ing  itself,  in  the  present  crisis,  as  much  as  possible,  by 
favours.  This  was  a  politic  mode  of  procedure,  with  ordi 
nary  men,  it  is  true ;  but  with  officers  of  the  elevation  of 
mind,  and  of  the  independence  of  character  of  our  two  admi 
rals,  it  was  most  likely  to  produce  disgust. 

"  D n  'em,  Dick,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  as  he  threw 

down,  the  last  letter  of  the  package,  with  no  little  sign  of 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  107 

feeling  ;  "  you  might  take  St,  Paul,  or  even  Wychecombe's 
dead  brother,  St,  James  the  less,  and  put  him  at  court,  and 
he  would  come  out  a  thorough  blackguard,  in  a  week  !" 

"That  is  not  the  common  opinion  concerning  a  court 
education,"  quietly  replied  the  friend  ;  "  most  people  fancy 
ing  that  the  place  gives  refinement  of  manners,  if  not  of 
sentiment." 

"  Poh — poh — you  and  I  have  no  need  of  a  dictionary  to 
understand  each  other.  I  call  a  man  who  never  trusts  to  a 
generous  motive — who  thinks  it  always  necessary  to  bribe 
or  cajole — who  has  no  idea  of  any  thing's  being  done  with 
out  its  direct  quid  pro  quo,  a  scurvy  blackguard,  though  he 
has  the  airs  and  graces  of  Phil.  Stanhope,  or  Chesterfield, 
as  he  is  now.  What  do  you  think  them  chaps  at  the  Board, 
talk  of  doing,  by  way  of  clinching  my  loyalty,  at  this  blessed 
juncture  ?" 

"  No  doubt  to  get  you  raised  to  the  peerage.  I  see  no 
thing  so  much  out  of  the  way  in  the  thing.  You  are  of  one 
of  the  oldest  families  of  England,  are  the  sixth  baronet  by 
inheritance,  and  have  a  noble  landed  estate,  which  is  none 
the  worse  for  prize-money.  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  of  Bowl- 
dero,  would  make  a  very  suitable  Lord  Bowldero." 

"  If  it  were  only  that,  I  shouldn't  mind  it ;  for  nothing  is 
easier  than  to  refuse  a  peerage.  I  've  done  that  twice  al 
ready,  and  can  do  it  a  third  time,  at  need.  But  one  can't 
very  well  refuse  promotion  in  his  regular  profession ;  and, 
here,  just  as  a  true  gentleman  would  depend  on  the  princi 
ples  of  an  officer,  the  hackneyed  consciences  of  your  cour 
tiers  have  suggested  the  expediency  of  making  Gervaise 
Oakes  an  admiral  of  the  blue,  by  way  of  sop  !  —  me,  who 
was  made  vice-admiral  of  the  red,  only  six  months  since, 
and  who  take  an  honest  pride  in  boasting  that  every  com 
mission,  from  the  lowest  to  the  highest,  has  been  fairly 
earned  in  battle !" 

"  They  think  it  a  more  delicate  service,  perhaps,  for  a 
gentleman  to  be  true  to  the  reigning  house,  when  so  loud  an 
appeal  is  made  to  his  natural  loyalty  ;  and  therefore  class 
the  self-conquest  with  a  victory  at  sea  !" 

"  They  are  so  many  court-lubbers,  and  I  should  like  to 
have  an  opportunity  of  speaking  my  mind  to  them.  I  '11 


108  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

not  take  the  new  commission  j  for  every  one  must  see,  Dick, 
that  it  is  a  sop." 

"  Ay,  that 's  just  my  notion,  too,  about  the  red  riband ; 
and  I  '11  not  take  that.  You  have  had  the  riband  these  ten 
years,  have  declined  the  peerage  twice,  and  their  only 
chance  is  the  promotion.  Take  it  you  ought,  and  must, 
however,  as  it  will  be  the  means  of  pushing  on  some  four  or 
five  poor  devils,  who  have  been  wedged  up  to  honours,  in 
this  manner,  ever  since  they  were  captains.  I  am  glad  they 
do  not  talk  of  promoting  me,  for  I  should  hardly  know  how 
to  refuse  such  a  grace.  There  is  great  virtue  in  parchment, 
with  all  us  military  men." 

"  Still  it  must  be  parchment  fairly  won.  1  think  you  are 
wrong,  notwithstanding,  Blue  water,  in  talking  of  refusing 
the  riband,  which  is  so  justly  your  due,  for  a  dozen  dif 
ferent  acts.  There  is  not  a  man  in  the  service,  who  has 
been  less  rewarded  for  what  he  has  done,  than  yourself." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  give  this  as  your  opinion ;  for 
just  at  this  moment,  I  would  rather  think  that  I  have  no 
cause  of  complaint,  in  this  way,  against  the  reigning  family, 
or  its  ministers.  I  'm  sure  I  was  posted  when  quite  a  young 
man,  and  since  that  time,  no  one  has  been  lifted  over  my 
head." 

The  vice-admiral  looked  intently  at  his  friend  ;  for  never 
before  had  he  detected  a  feeling  which  betrayed,  as  he  fan 
cied,  so  settled  a  determination  in  him  to  quit  the  service  of 
the  powers  that  were.  Acquainted  from  boyhood  with  all 
the  workings  of  the  other's  mind,  he  perceived  that  the  rear- 
admiral  had  been  endeavouring  to  persuade  himself  that  no 
selfish  or  unworthy  motive  could  be  assigned  to  an  act 
which  he  felt  to  proceed  from  disinterested  chivalry,  just  as 
he  himself  broke  out  with  his  expression  of  an  opinion  that 
no  officer  had  been  less  liberally  rewarded  for  his  profes 
sional  services  than  his  friend.  While  there  is  no  greater 
mystery  to  a  selfish  manager,  than  a  man  of  disinterested 
temperament,  they  who  feel  and  submit  to  generous  im 
pulses,  understand  each  other  with  an  instinctive  facility. 
When  any  particular  individual  is  prone  to  believe  that 
there  is  a  predominance  of  good  over  evil  in  the  world  he 
inhabits,  it  is  a  sign  of  inexperience  or  of  imbecility ;  but 
when  one  acts  and  reasons  as  if  all  honour  and  virtue  are 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  109 

extinct,  he  furnishes  the  best  possible  argument  against  his 
own  tendencies  and  character.  It  has  oilen  been  remarked 
that  stronger  friendships  are  made  between  those  who  have 
different  personal  peculiarities,  than  between  those  whose 
sameness  of  feeling  and  impulses  would  be  less  likely  to 
keep  interest  alive ;  but,  in  all  cases  of  intimacies,  there 
must  be  great  identity  of  principles,  and  even  of  tastes  in 
matters  at  all  connected  with  motives,  in  order  to  ensure 
respect,  among  those  whose  standard  of  opinion  is  higher 
than  common,  or  sympathy  among  those  with  whom  it  is 
lower.  Such  was  the  fact,  as  respected  Admirals  Oakes 
and  Blue  water.  No  two  men  could  be  less  alike  in  tempera 
ment,  or  character,  physically,  and  in  some  senses,  morally 
considered ;  but,  when  it  came  to  principles,  or  ail  those 
tastes  or  feelings  that  are  allied  to  principles,  there  was  a 
strong  native,  as  well  as  acquired  affinity.  This  union  of 
sentiment  was  increased  by  common  habits,  and  professional 
careers  so  long  and  so  closely  united,  as  to  be  almost  identi 
cal.  Nothing  was  easier,  consequently,  than  for  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  Oakes  to  comprehend  the  workings  of  Admiral  Blue- 
water's  mind,  as  the  latter  endeavoured  to  believe  he  had 
been  fairly  treated  by  the  existing  government.  Of  course, 
the  reasoning  which  passed  through  the  thoughts  of  Sir 
Gervaise,  on  this  occasion,  required  much  less  time  than  we 
have  taken  to  explain  its  nature ;  and,  after  regarding  his 
friend  intently,  as  already  related,  for  a  few  seconds,  he 
answered  as  follows  ;  a  good  deal  influenced,  unwittingly  to 
himself,  with  the  wish  to  check  the  other's  Jacobite  propen 
sities. 

"  I  am  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  agree  with  you,  Dick,"  he 
said,  with  some  warmth.  "  So  far  from  thinking  you  weL 
treated,  by  any  ministry,  these  twenty  years,  I  think  you 
have  been  very  ill  treated.  Your  rank  you  have,  beyond 
a  question  ;  for  of  that  no  brave  officer  can  well  be  deprived 
in  a  regulated  service ;  but,  have  you  had  the  commands  to 
which  you  are  entitled  ? — I  was  a  commander-in-chief  when 
only  a  rear-admiral  of  the  blue ;  and  then  how  long  did  I 
wear  a  broad  pennant,  before  I  got  a  flag,  at  all !" 

"  You  forget  how  much  I  have  been  with  you.  When 
two  serve  together,  one  must  command,  and  the  other  must 
obev  So  rar  from  complaining  of  these  Hanoverian  Boards, 
10 


110  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

and  First  Lords,  it  seems  to  me  that  they  have  always  kept 
in  view  the  hollowness  of  their  claims  to  the  throne,  and 
have  felt  a  desire  to  purchase  honest  men  by  their  favours." 

"  You  are  the  strangest  fellow,  Dick  Bluewater,  it  has 
ever  been  my  lot  to  fall  in  with  !  D— e  me,  if  I  believe 
you  know  always,  when  you  are  ill  treated.  There  are  a 
dozen  men  in  service,  who  have  had  separate  commands, 
and  who  are  not  half  as  well  entitled  to  them,  as  you  are 
yourself." 

"  Come,  come,  Oakes,  this  is  getting  to  be  puerile,  for  two 
old  fellows,  turned  of  fifty.  You  very  well  know  that  I 
was  offered  just  as  good  a  fleet,  as  this  of  your  own,  with  a 
choice  of  the  whole  list  of  flag-officers  below  me,  to  pick  a 
junior  from  ;  and,  so,  we  '11  say  no  more  about  it.  As  re 
spects  their  red  riband,  however,  it  may  go  a-begging  for 
me." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  about  to  answer  in  his  former  vein, 
when  a  tap  at  the  door  announced  the  presence  of  another 
visiter.  This  time  the  door  opened  on  the  person  of  Gal- 
leygo,  who  had  been  included  in  Sir  Wycherly's  hospitable 
plan  of  entertaining  every  soul  who  immediately  belonged 
to  the  suite  of  Sir  Gervaise. 

"  What  the  d — 1  has  brought  you  here  !"  exclaimed  the 
vice-admiral,  a  little  warmly  ;  for  he  did  not  relish  an  inter 
ruption  just  at  this  moment.  "  Recollect  you  're  not  on 
board  the  Plantagenet,  but  in  the  dwelling  of  a  gentleman, 
where  there  are  both  butler  and  housekeeper,  and  who  have 
no  occasion  for  your  advice,  or  authority,  to  keep  things  in 
order." 

"  Well,  there,  Sir  Gervaise  I  doesn't  agree  with  you  the 
lenst  bit ;  for  I  thinks  as  a  ship's  steward — I  mean  a  cabin 
steward,  and  a  good  'un  of  the  quality — might  do  a  great 
deal  of  improvement  in  this  very  house.  The  cook  and  I 
has  had  a  particular  dialogue  on  them  matters,  already; 
and  I  mentioned  to  her  the  names  of  seven  different  dishes, 
every  one  of  which  she  quite  as  good  as  admitted  to  me, 
was  just  the  same  as  so  much  gospel  to  Aer." 

"  I  shall  have  to  quarantine  this  fellow,  in  the  long  run, 
Bluewater !  1  do  believe  if  I  were  to  take  him  to  Lambeth 
Palace,  or  even  to  St.  James's,  he  'd  thrust  his  oar  into  the 
archbishop's  benedictions,  or  the  queen's  caudle-cup !" 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  Ill 

"  Well,  Sir  Gervaise,  where  would  be  the  great  harm,  if 
I  did  ?  A  man  as  knows  the  use  of  an  oar,  may  be  trusted 
with  one,  even  in  a  church,  or  an  abbey.  When  your 
honour  comes  to  hear  what  the  dishes  was,  as  Sir  Wy- 
cherly's  cook  had  never  heard  on,  you  '11  think  it  as  great  a 
curiosity  as  I  do  myself.  If  I  had  just  leave  to  name  'em 
over,  I  think  as  both  you  gentlemen  would  look  at  it  as 
remarkable." 

"  What  are  they,  Galleygo  ?"  inquired  Bluewater,  put 
ting  one  of  his  long  legs  over  an  arm  of  the  adjoining  chair, 
in  order  to  indulge  himself  in  a  yarn  with  his  friend's  stew 
ard,  with  greater  freedom  ;  for  he  greatly  delighted  in  Gal- 
leygo's  peculiarities ;  seeing  just  enough  of  the  fellow  to 
find  amusement,  without  annoyance  in  them.  "  I  '11  an 
swer  for  Sir  Gervaise,  who  is  always  a  little  diffident  about 
boasting  of  the  superiority  of  a  ship,  over  a  house." 

"  Yes,  your  honour,  that  he  is  —  that  is  just  one  of  Sir 
Jarvy's  weak  p'ints,  as  a  body  might  say.  Now,  I  never 
goes  ashore,  without  trimming  sharp  up,  and  luffing  athwart 
every  person's  hawse,  I  fall  in  with ;  which  is  as  much  as 
to  tell  'em,  I  belongs  to  a  flag-ship,  and  a  racer,  and  a  craft 
as  hasn't  her  equal  on  salt-water ;  no  disparagement  to  the 
bit  of  bunting  at  the  mizzen-top-gallant-mast-head  of  the 
Caesar,  or  to  the  ship  that  carries  it.  I  hopes,  as  we  are 
so  well  acquainted,  Admiral  Bluewater,  no  offence  will  be 
taken.'1 

"  Where  none  is  meant,  none  ought  to  be  taken,  my 
friend.  Now  let  us  hear  your  bill-cf-fare." 

"  Well,  sir,  the  very  first  dish  I  mentioned  to  Mrs.  Larder, 
Sir  Wycherly's  cook,  was  lobscous  ;  and,  would  you  be 
lieve  it,  gentlemen,  the  poor  woman  had  never  heard  of  it ! 
I  began  with  a  light  hand,  as  it  might  be,  just  not  to  over 
whelm  her  with  knowledge,  at  a  blow,  as  Sir  Jarvy  capti 
vated  the  French  frigate  with  the  upper  tier  of  guns,  that  he 
might  take  her  alive,  like." 

"And  the  lady  knew  nothing  of  a  lobscous  —  neither  of 
its  essence,  nor  nature  ?" 

"  There 's  no  essences  as  is  ever  put  in  a  lobscous,  be 
sides  potaties,  Admiral  Bluewater ;  thof  we  make  'em  in  the 
old  Planter" — nautice  for  Plantagenet — "  in  so  liquorish  a 
fashion,  you  might  well  think  they  even  had  Jamaiky,  in 


112  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

'em.  No,  potaties  is  the  essence  of  lobscous  ;  and  a  very 
good  thing  is  a  potatie,  Sir  Jarvy,  when  a  ship's  company 
has  been  on  salted  oakum  for  a  few  months." 

"  Wei!,  what  was  the  next  dish  the  good  woman  broke 
down  under?"  asked  the  rear-admiral,  fearful  the  master 
might  order  the  servant  to  quit  the  room ;  while  he,  himself, 
was  anxious  to  get  rid  of  any  further  political  discussion. 

"  Well,  sir,  she  knowed  no  more  of  a  chowder,  than  if 
the  sea  wern't  in  the  neighbourhood,  and  there  wern't  such 
a  thing  as  a  fish  in  all  England.  When  I  talked  to  her  of 
a  chowder,  she  gave  in,  like  a  Spaniard  at  the  fourth  or  fifth 
broadside." 

"  Such  ignorance  is  disgraceful,  and  betokens  a  decline  in 
civilization  !  But,  you  hoisted  out  more  knowledge  for  her 
benefit,  Galleygo — small  doses  of  learning  are  poor  things." 

"  Yes,  your  honour ;  just  like  weak  grog — burning  the 
priming,  without  starting  the  shot.  To  be  sure,  I  did,  Ad 
miral  Blue.  I  just  named  to  her  burgoo,  and  then  I  men 
tioned  duff  (anglice  dough)  to  her,  but  she  denied  that  there 
was  any  such  things  in  the  cookery-book.  Do  you  know,  Sir 
Jarvy,  as  these  here  shore  craft  get  their  dinners,  as  our 
master  gets  the  sun ;  all  out  of  a  book,  as  it  might  be. 
Awful  tidings,  too,  gentlemen,  about  the  Pretender's  son ; 
and  I  s'pose  we  shall  have  to  take  the  fleet  up  into  Scotland, 
as  I  fancy  them  'ere  sogers  will  not  make  much  of  a  hand 
in  settling  law  ?" 

"  And  have  you  honoured  us  with  a  visit,  just  to  give  us 
an  essay  on  dishes,  and  to  tell  us  what  you  intend  to  do 
with  the  fleet?"  demanded  SirGervaise,  a  little  more  sternly 
than  he  was  accustomed  to  speak  to  the  steward. 

"  Lord  bless  you,  Sir  Jarvy,  I  didn't  dream  of  one  or 
t'other  !  As  for  telling  you,  or  Admiral  Blue,  (so  the  sea 
men  used  to  call  the  second  in  rank,)  here,  anything  about 
lobscous,  or  chowder,  why,  it  would  be  carrying  coals  to 
New  Market.  I  've  fed  ye  both  with  all  such  articles,  when 
ye  was  nothing  but  young  gentlemen ;  and  when  you  was 
no  longer  young  gentlemen,  too,  but  a  couple  of  sprightly 
luffs,  of  nineteen.  And  as  for  moving  the  fleet,  I  know, 
well  enough,  that  will  never  happen,  without  our  talking  it 
over  in  the  old  Planter's  cabin ;  which  is  a  much  more 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  113 

nat'ral  place  for  such  a  discourse,  than  any  house  in  Eng 
land  !" 

"  May  I  take  the  liberty  of  inquiring,  then,  wnat  did  bring 
you  here?'' 

"  That  you  may,  with  all  my  heart,  Sir  Jarvy,  for  I  likes 
to  answer  your  questions.  My  errand  is  not  to  your  honour 
this  time,  though  you  are  my  master.  It 's  no  great  matter, 
after  all,  being  just  to  hand  this  bit  of  a  letter  over  to  Admi 
ral  Blue." 

"  And  where  did  this  letter  come  from,  and  how  did  it 
happen  to  fall  into  your  hands  1"  demanded  Bluewater, 
looking  at  the  superscription,  the  writing  of  which  he  ap 
peared  to  recognise. 

"  It  hails  from  Lun'nun,  I  hear ;  and  they  tell  me  it 's  to 
be  a  great  secret  that  you  've  got  it,  at  all.  The  history  of 
the  matter  is  just  this.  An  officer  got  in  to-night,  with 
orders  for  us,  carrying  sail  as  hard  as  his  shay  would  bear. 
It  seems  he  fell  in  with  Master  Atwood,  as  he  made  his  land 
fall,  and  being  acquainted  with  that  gentleman,  he  just 
whipped  out  his  orders,  and  sent  'em  off  to  the  right  man. 
Then  he  laid  his  course  for  the  landing,  wishing  to  get 
aboard  of  the  Dublin,  to  which  he  is  ordered  ;  but  falling 
in  with  our  barge,  as  I  landed,  he  wanted  to  know  the  where- 
away  of  Admiral  Blue,  here ;  believing  him  to  be  afloat. 
Some  'un  telling  him  as  I  was  a  friend  and  servant  of  both 
admirals,  as  it  might  be,  he  turned  himself  over  to  me  for 
advice.  So  I  promised  to  deliver  the  letter,  as  I  had  a  thou 
sand  afore,  and  knowed  the  way  of  doing  such  things  ;  and 
he  gives  me  the  letter,  under  special  orders,  like ;  that  is  to 
say,  it  was  to  be  handed  to  the  rear-admiral  as  it  might  be 
under  the  lee  of  the  mizzen-stay-sail,  or  in  a  private  fashion. 
Well,  gentlemen,  you  both  knows  I  understand  that,  too, 
and  so  I  undertook  the  job." 

"  And  I  have  got  to  be  so  insignificant  a  person  that  I 
pass  for  no  one,  in  your  discriminating  mind,  Master  Gal- 
leygo  !"  exclaimed  the  vice-admiral,  sharply.  "  I  have  sus- 
pectec  as  much,  these  five-and-twenty  years." 

"  Lord  bless  you,  Sir  Jarvy,  how  flag-officers  will  make 

mistakes  sometimes  !     They  're  mortal,  I  says  to  the  people 

of  the  galley,  and  have  their  appetites  false,  just  like  the 

young  gentlemen,  when  they  get  athwart-hawse  of  a  body, 

10* 


114  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

I  says.  Now,  I  count  Admiral  Blue  and  yourself  pretty 
much  as  one  man,  seeing  that  you  keep  few,  or  no  secrets 
from  each  other.  I  know'd  ye  both  as  young  gentlemen, 
and  then  you  loved  one  another  like  twins ;  and  then  I 
know'd  ye  as  luffs,  when  ye  'd  walk  the  deck  the  whole 
watch,  spinning  yarns  ;  and  then  I  know'd  ye  as  Pillardees 
and  Arrestee,  though  one  pillow  might  have  answered  for 
both  ;  and  as  for  Arrest,  I  never  know'd  either  of  ye  to  get 
into  that  scrape.  As  for  telling  a  secret  to  one,  I  've  al 
ways  looked  upon  it  as  pretty  much  telling  it  to  t'  other." 

The  two  admirals  exchanged  glances,  and  the  look  of 
kindness  that  each  met  in  the  eyes  of  his  friend  removed 
every  shadow  that  had  been  cast  athwart  their  feelings,  by 
the  previous  discourse. 

"  That  will  do,  Galleygo,"  returned  Sir  Gervaise,  mildly. 
"  You  're  a  good  fellow  in  the  main,  though  a  villanously 
rough  one — " 

"  A  little  of  old  Boreus,  Sir  Jarvy,"  interrupted  the  stew 
ard,  with  a  grim  smile ;  "  but  it  blows  harder  at  sea  than 
it  does  ashore.  These  chaps  on  land,  ar'n't  battened  down, 
and  caulked  for  such  weather,  as  we  sons  of  Neptun'  is  ob 
ligated  to  face." 

"  Quite  true,  and  so  good-night.  Admiral  Bluewater  and 
myself  wish  to  confer  together,  for  half  an  hour;  all  that  it 
is  proper  for  you  to  know,  shall  be  communicated  another 
time." 

"  Good-night,  and  God  bless  your  honour.  Good-night, 
Admiral  Blue :  we  three  is  the  men  as  can  keep  any  secret 
as  ever  floated,  let  it  draw  as  much  water  as  it  pleases." 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  stopped  in  his  walk,  and  gazed  at  his 
friend  with  manifest  interest,  as  he  perceived  that  Admiral 
Bluewater  was  running  over  his  letter  for  the  third  time. 
Being  now  without  a  witness,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  express 
his  apprehensions. 

'•  T  is  as  I  feared,  Dick  !"  he  cried.  "  That  letter  is  from 
some  prominent  partisan  of  Edward  Stua/U" 

The  rear-admiral  turned  his  eyes  on  the  face  of  his  friend, 
with  an  expression  that  was  difficult  to  read ;  and  then  he 
ran  over  the  contents  of  the  epistle,  for  the  fourth  time. 

"  A  set  of  precious  rascals  they  are,  Gervaise  !"  at  length 
the  rear-admiral  exclaimed.  "  If  the  whole  court  was 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  115 

culled,  I  question  if  enough  honesty  could  be  found  to  leaven 
one  puritan  scoundrel.  Tell  me  if  you  know  this  hand, 
Oakes  1  I  question  if  you  ever  saw  it  before." 

The  superscription  of  the  letter  was  held  out  to  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  who,  after  a  close  examination,  declared  himself 
unacquainted  with  the  writing. 

"  I  thought  as  much,"  resumed  Bluewater,  carefully  tear 
ing  the  signature  from  the  bottom  of  the  page,  and  burning 
it  in  a  candle ;  "  let  this  disgraceful  part  of  the  secret  die, 
at  least.  The  fellow  who  wrote  this,  has  put  '  confidential ' 
at  the  top  of  his  miserable  scrawl ;  and  a  most  confident 
scoundrel  he  is,  for  his  pains.  However,  no  man  has  a 
right  to  thrust  himself,  in  this  rude  manner,  between  me  and 
my  oldest  friend  ;  and  least  of  all  will  I  consent  to  keep  this 
piece  of  treachery  from  your  knowledge.  I  do  more  than 
the  rascal  merits  in  concealing  his  name ;  nevertheless,  I 
shall  not  deny  myself  the  pleasure  of  sending  him  such  an 
answer  as  he  deserves.  Read  that,  Oakes,  and  then  say  if 
keelhauling  would  be  too  good  for  the  writer." 

Sir  Gervaise  took  the  letter  in  silence,  though  not  without 
great  surprise,  and  began  to  peruse  it.  As  he  proceeded, 
the  colour  mounted  to  his  temples,  and  once  he  dropped  his 
hand,  to  cast  a  look  of  wonder  and  indignation  towards  his 
companion.  That  the  reader  may  see  how  much  occasion 
there  was  for  both  these  feelings,  we  shall  give  the  commu 
nication  entire.  It  was  couched  in  the  following  words : 

"  Dear  Admiral  Bluewater  : 

"  Our  ancient  friendship,  and  I  am  proud  to  add,  affinity 
of  blood,  unite  in  inducing  me  to  write  a  line,  at  this  interest 
ing  moment.  Of  the  result  of  this  rash  experiment  of  th* 
Pretender's  son,  no  prudent  man  can  entertain  a  doubt. 
Still,  the  boy  may  give  us  some  trouble,  before  he  is  dis 
posed  of,  altogether.  We  look  to  all  our  friends,  therefore, 
for  their  most  efficient  exertions,  and  most  prudent  co-opera- 
tion.  On  yow,  every  reliance  is  placed  ;  and  I  wish  I  could 
say  as  much  for  every  flag-officer  afloat.  Some  distrust- 
unmerited,  I  sincerely  hope — exists  in  a  very  high  quarter, 
touching  the  loyalty  of  a  certain  commander-in-chief,  who 
is  so  completely  under  your  observation,  that  it  is  felt 
enough  is  done  in  hinting  the  fact  to  one  of  your  political 


116  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

tendencies.  The  king  said,  this  morning,  *  Veil,  dere  isht 
Bluevater;  of  him  we  are  shure  asht  of  ter  sun.'  You  stand 
excellently  well  there,  to  my  great  delight;  and  I  need  only 
say,  be  watchful  and  prompt. 

"  Yours,  with  the  most  sincere  faith  and  attachment,  my 
dear  Bluewater,  &c.,  &c. . 

"  REAR-ADMIRAL  BLUEWATER. 

•'  P.  S. — I  have  just  heard  that  they  have  sent  you  the  red 
riband.  The  king  himself,  was  in  this." 

When  Sir  Gervaise  had  perused  this  precious  epistle  to 
himself,  he  read  it  slowly,  and  in  a  steady,  clear  voice, 
aloud.  When  he  had  ended,  he  dropped  the  paper,  and 
stood  gazing  at  his  friend. 

"One  would  think  the  fellow  some  exquisite  satirist," 
said  Bluewater,  laughing.  "  /  am  to  be  vigilant,  and  see 
that  you  do  not  mutiny,  and  run  away  with  the  fleet  to  the 
Highlands,  one  of  these  foggy  mornings  !  Carry  it  up  into 
Scotland,  as  Galleygo  has  it !  Now,  what  is  your  opinion 
of  that  letter?" 

"  That  all  courtiers  are  knaves,  and  all  princes  ungrate 
ful.  I  should  think  my  loyalty  to  the  good  cause,  if  not  to 
the  man,  the  last  in  England  to  be  suspected." 

"  Nor  is  it  suspected,  in  the  smallest  degree.  My  life  on 
it,  neither  the  reigning  monarch,  nor  his  confidential  ser 
vants,  are  such  arrant  dunces,  as  to  be  guilty  of  so  much 
weakness.  No,  this  masterly  move  is  intended  to  secure 
me,  by  creating  a  confidence  that  they  think  no  generous- 
minded  man  would  betray.  It  is  a  hook,  delicately  baited 
to  catch  a  gudgeon,  and  not  an  order  to  watch  a  whale." 

"  Can  the  scoundrels  be  so  mean — nay,  dare  they  be  so 
bold  !  They  must  have  known  you  would  show  me  the 
letter." 

"  Not  they — they  have  reasoned  on  my  course,  as  they 
would  on  their  own.  Nothing  catches  a  weak  man  sooner 
than  a  pretended  confidence  of  this  nature  ;  and  I  dare  say 
this  blackguard  rates  me  just  high  enough  to  fancy  I  may 
be  duped  in  this  flimsy  manner.  Put  your  mind  at  rest ; 
King  George  knows  he  may  confide  in  you,  while  I  think  it 
probable  /  am  distrusted." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  117 

"  I  hope,  Dick,  you  do  not  suspect  my  discretion  !  My 
own  secret  would  not  be  half  so  sacred  with  me." 

"  I  know  that,  full  well.  Of  you,  I  entertain  no  distrust, 
either  in  heart  or  head  ;  of  myself,  I  am  not  quite  so  cer 
tain.  When  we  feel,  we  do  not  always  reason;  and  there 
is  as  much  feeling,  as  anything  else,  in  this  matter." 

"  Not  a  line  is  there,  in  all  my  despatches,  that  go  to  be 
tray  the  slightest  distrust  of  me,  or  any  one  else.  You  are 
spoken  of,  but  it  is  in  a  manner  to  gratify  you,  rather  than 
to  alarm.  Take,  and  read  them  all ;  I  intended  to  show 
them  to  you,  as  soon  as  we  had  got  through  with  that  cursed 
discussion." 

As  Sir  Gervaise  concluded,  he  threw  the  whole  package 
of  letters  on  the  table,  before  his  friend. 

"  It  will  be  time  enough,  when  you  summon  me  regularly 
to  a  council  of  war,"  returned  Btuewater,  laying  the  letters 
gently  aside.  "  Perhaps  we  had  better  sleep  on  this  affair ; 
in  the  morning  we  shall  meet  with  cooler  heads,  and  just  as 
warm  hearts." 

"  Good-night,  Dick,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  holding  out  both 
hands  for  the  other  to  shake  as  he  passed  him,  in  quitting 
the  room. 

"  Good-night,  Gervaise  ;  let  this  miserable  devil  go  over 
board,  and  think  no  more  of  him.  I  have  half  a  mind  to 
ask  you  for  a  leave,  to-morrow,  just  to  run  up  to  London, 
and  cut  off  his  ears." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed  and  nodded  his  head,  and  the  two 
friends  parted,  with  feelings  as  kind  as  ever  had  distinguished 
their  remarkable  career. 


118  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

"Look  to't,  think  on't,  I  do  not  use  to  jest 
Thursday  is  near  ;  lay  hand  on  heart,  advise  ; 
An'  you  be  mine,  I  '11  give  you  to  my  friend ; 
An1  you  be  not,  hang,  beg,  starve,  die  i'  the  streets.** 

Romeo  and  Juliet. 

WYCHECOMBE  HALL  had  most  of  the  peculiarities  of  a 
bachelor's  dwelling,  in  its  internal  government ;  nor  was  it, 
in  any  manner,  behind,  or,  it  might  be  better  to  say,  before, 
the  age,  in  its  modes  and  customs  connected  with  jollifica 
tions.  When  its  master  relaxed  a  little,  the  servants  quite 
uniformly  imitated  his  example.  Sir  Wycherly  kept  a 
plentiful  table,  and  the  servants'  hall  fared  nearly  as  well  as 
the  dining-room ;  the  single  article  of  wine  excepted.  In 
lieu  of  the  latter,  however,  was  an  unlimited  allowance  of 
double-brewed  ale ;  and  the  difference  in  the  potations  was 
far  more  in  the  name  than  in  the  quality  of  the  beverages. 
The  master  drank  .port ;  for,  in  the  middle  of  the  last  cen 
tury,  few  Englishmen  had  better  wine — and  port,  too,  that 
was  by  no  means  of  a  very  remarkable  delicacy,  but  which, 
like  those  who  used  it,  was  rough,  honest,  and  strong ; 
while  the  servant  had  his  malt  liquor  of  the  very  highest 
stamp  and  flavour.  Between  indifferent  wine  and  excellent 
ale,  the  distance  is  not  interminable ;  and  Sir  Wycherly's 
household  was  well  aware  of  the  fact,  having  frequently  in 
stituted  intelligent  practical  comparisons,  by  means  of  which, 
all  but  the  butler  and  Mrs.  Larder  had  come  to  the  conclu 
sion  to  stand  by  the  home-brewed. 

On  the  present  occasion,  not  a  soul  in  the  house  was 
ignorant  of  the  reason  why  the  baronet  was  making  a  night 
of  it.  Every  man,  woman,  and  child,  in  or  about  the  Hall, 
was  a  devoted  partisan  of  the  house  of  Hanover ;  and  as  soon 
as  it  was  understood  that  this  feeling  was  to  be  manifested  by 
drinking  "  success  to  King  George,  and  God  bless  him,"  on 
the  one  side  ;  and  "  confusion  to  the  Pretender,  and  his  mad 
eon,"  on  the  other ;  all  under  the  roof  entered  into  the  duty, 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  119 

with  a  zeal  that  might  have  seated  a  usurper  on  a  throne, 
if  potations  could  do  it. 

When  Admiral  Bluewater,  therefore,  left  the  chamber  of 
his  friend,  the  signs  of  mirth  and  of  a  regular  debauch  were 
so  very  obvious,  that  a  little  curiosity  to  watch  the  result, 
and  a  disinclination  to  go  off  to  his  ship  so  soon,  united  to 
induce  him  to  descend  into  the  rooms  below,  with  a  view  to 
get  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of  the  condition  of  the  house 
hold.  In  crossing  the  great  hall,  to  enter  the  drawing-room, 
he  encountered  Galleygo,  when  the  following  discourse  took 
place. 

"  I  should  think  the  master-at-arms  has  not  done  his  duty, 
and  dowsed  the  glim  below,  Master  Steward,"  said  the  rear- 
admiral,  in  his  quiet  way,  as  they  met ;  "  the  laughing,  and 
singing,  and  hiccupping,  are  all  upon  a  very  liberal  scale 
for  a  respectable  country-house." 

Galleygo  touched  the  lock  of  hair  on  his  forehead,  with 
one  hand,  and  gave  his  trowsers  a  slue  with  the  other,  before 
he  answered ;  which  he  soon  did,  however,  though  with  a 
voice  a  little  thicker  than  was  usual  with  him,  on  account 
of  his  having  added  a  draught  or  two  to  those  he  had  taken 
previously  to  visiting  Sir  Gervaise's  dressing-room ;  and 
which  said  additional  draught  or  two,  had  produced  some 
such  effect  on  his  system,  as  the  fresh  drop  produces  on  the 
cup  that  is  already  full. 

"  That 's  just  it,  Admiral  Blue,"  returned  the  steward,  in 
passing  good-humour,  though  still  sober  enough  to  maintain 
the  decencies,  after  his  own  fashion ;  "  that 's  just  it,  your 
honour.  They  've  passed  the  word  below  to  let  the  lights 
stand  for  further  orders,  and  have  turned  the  hands  up  for  a 
frolic.  Such  ale  as  they  has,  stowed  in  the  lower  hold  of 
this  house,  like  leaguers  in  the  ground-tier,  it  does  a  body's 
heart  good  to  conter'plate.  All  hands  is  bowsing  up  their 
jibs  on  it,  sir,  and  the  old  Hall  will  soon  be  carrying  as 
much  sail  as  she  can  stagger  under.  It 's  nothing  but  loose- 
away  and  sheet-home." 

"  Ay,  ay,  Galleygo,  this  may  be  well  enough  for  the 
people  of  the  household,  if  Sir  Wycherly  allows  it ;  but  it 
ill  becomes  the  servants  of  guests  to  fall  into  this  disorder. 
If  I  find  Tom  has  done  anything  amiss,  he  will  hear  more 
of  it ;  and  as  your  own  master  is  not  here  to  admonish  yow, 


120  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

I  '11  just  take  the  liberty  of  doing  it  for  him,  since  I  know  it 
would  mortify  him  exceedingly  to  learn  that  his  steward 
had  done  anything  to  disgrace  himself." 

"  Lord  bless  your  dear  soul,  Admiral  Blue,  take  just  as 
many  liberties  as  you  think  fit,  and  I  '11  never  pocket  one 
on  'em.  I  know'd  you,  when  you  was  only  a  young  gen 
tleman,  and  now  you  're  a  rear.  You  're  close  on  our  heels ; 
and  by  the  time  we  are  a  full  admiral,  you  '11  be  something 
like  a  vice.  I  looks  upon  you  as  bone  of  our  bone,  and 
flesh  of  our  flesh, — Pillardees  and  Arrestees — and  I  no  more 
minds  a  setting- down  from  your  honour,  than  I  does  from 
Sir  Jarvy,  hisself." 

"  I  believe  that  is  true  enough,  Galleygo ;  but  take  my 
advice,  and  knock  off  with  the  ale  for  to-night.  Can  you 
tell  me  how  the  land  lies,  with  the  rest  of  the  company  ?" 

"  You  couldn't  have  asked  a  better  person,  your  honour, 
as  I  've  just  been  passing  through  all  the  rooms,  from  a  sort 
of  habit  I  has,  sir ;  for,  d'ye  see,  I  thought  I  was  in  the  old 
Planter,  and  that  it  was  my  duty  to  overlook  everything,  as 
usual.  The  last  pull  at  the  ale,  put  that  notion  in  my  head ; 
but  it 's  gone  now,  and  I  see  how  matters  is.  Yes  sir,  the 
mainmast  of  a  church  isn't  suffer  and  more  correct-like, 
than  my  judgment  is,  at  this  blessed  moment.  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  guv'  me  a  glass  of  his  black-strap,  as  I  ran  through 
the  dining-room,  and  told  me  to  drink  *  Confusion  to  the 
Pretender,'  which  I  did,  with  hearty  good-will ;  but  his 
liquor  will  no  more  lay  alongside  of  the  ale  they  've  down 
on  the  orlop,  than  a  Frenchman  will  compare  with  an  Eng 
lishman.  What 's  your  opinion,  Admiral  Blue,  consarning 
this  cruise  of  the  Pretender's  son,  up  in  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland?" 

Bluewater  gave  a  quick,  distrustful  glance  at  the  steward, 
for  he  knew  that  the  fellow  was  half  his  time  in  the  outer 
cabin  and  pantries  of  the  Plantagenet,  and  he  could  not  tell 
how  much  of  his  many  private  dialogues  with  Sir  Gervaise, 
might  have  been  overheard.  Meeting  with  nothing  but  the 
unmeaning  expression  of  one  half-seas-over,  his  uneasiness 
instantly  subsided. 

"  I  think  it  a  gallant  enterprise,  Galleygo,"  he  answered  ; 
too  manly  even  to  feign  what  he  did  not  believe ;  "  but  1 
fear,  as  a  cruise,  it  will  not  bring  much  prize-money.  You 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  121 

have  forgotten  you  were  about  to  tell  me  how  the  land  lies. 
Sir  Wycherly,  Mr.  Button,  Mr.  Rotherham,  are  still  at  the 
table,  I  fancy — are  these  all  7  What  have  become  of  the 
two  young  gentlemen  ?" 

"  There  's  none  ashore,  sir,"  said  Galleygo,  promptly ; 
accustomed  to  give  that  appellation  only  to  midshipmen. 

"  I  mean  the  two  Mr.  Wychecombes  ;  one  of  whom,  I 
had  forgot,  is  actually  an  officer." 

"  Yes  sir,  and  a  most  partic'lar  fine  officer  he  is,  as  every 
body  says.  Well,  sir,  he 's  with  the  ladies  ;  while  his 
namesake  has  gone  back  to  the  table,  and  has  put  luff  upon 
luff,  to  fetch  up  leeway." 

"  And  the  ladies — what  have  they  done  with  themselves, 
in  this  scene  of  noisy  revelry  ?" 

"  They  'se  in  yonder  state-room,  your  honour.  As  soon 
is  they  found  how  the  ship  was  heading,  like  all  women- 
craft,  they  both  makes  for  the  best  harbour  they  could  run 
into.  Yes,  they  'se  yonder." 

As  Galleygo  pointed  to  the  door  of  the  room  he  meant, 
Bluewater  proceeded  towards  it,  parting  with  the  steward 
after  a  few  more  words  of  customary,  but  very  useless  cau 
tion.  The  tap  of  the  admiral  was  answered  by  Wycherly 
in  person,  who  opened  the  door,  and  made  way  for  his  su 
perior  to  enter,  with  a  respectful  obeisance.  There  was  but 
a  single  candle  in  the  little  parlour,  in  which  the  two  females 
had  taken  refuge  from  the  increasing  noise  of  the  debauch ; 
and  this  was  due  to  a  pious  expedient  of  Mildred's,  in  extin 
guishing  the  others,  with  a  view  to  conceal  the  traces  of 
tears  that  were  still  visible  on  her  own  and  her  mothers 
cheeks.  The  rear-admiral  was,  at  first,  struck  with  this 
comparative  obscurity  ;  but  it  soon  appeared  to  him  appro 
priate  to  the  feelings  of  the  party  assembled  in  the  room. 
Mrs.  Button  received  him  with  the  ease  she  had  acquired  in 
her  early  life,  and  the  meeting  passed  as  a  matter  of  course, 
with  persons  temporarily  residing  under  the  same  roof. 

"  Our  friends  appear  to  be  enjoying  themselves,"  said 
Bluewater,  when  a  shout  from  the  dining-room  forced  itself 
on  the  ears  of  all  present.  "  The  loyalty  of  Sir  Wycherly 
seems  to  be  of  proof." 

"  Oh  !  Admiral  Bluewater,"  exclaimed  the  distressed  wife, 
feeling,  momentarily,  getting  the  better  of  discretion  ;  "  do 
11 


122  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

you — can  you  call  such  a  desecration  of  God's  image,  en 
joyment  ?" 

"  Not  justly,  perhaps,  Mrs.  Button ;  and  yet  it  is  what 
millions  mistake  for  it.  This  mode  of  celebrating  any  great 
event,  and  even  of  illustrating  what  we  think  our  principles, 
is,  I  fear,  a  vice  not  only  of  our  age,  but  of  our  country." 

"  And  yet,  neither  you,  nor  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  I  see, 
find  it  necessary  to  give  such  a  proof  of  your  attachment  to 
the  house  of  Hanover,  or  of  your  readiness  to  serve  it  with 
your  time  and  persons." 

"  You  will  remember,  my  good  lady,  that  both  Oakes  and 
myself  are  flag-officers  in  command,  and  it  would  never  do 
for  us  to  fall  into  a  debauch  in  sight  of  our  own  ships.  I 
am  glad  to  see,  however,  that  Mr.  Wychecombe,  here,  pre 
fers  such  society  as  I  find  him  in,  to  the  pleasures  of  the 
table." 

Wycherly  bowed,  and  Mildred  cast  an  expressive,  not  to 
say  grateful,  glance  towards  the  speaker ;  but  her  mother 
pursued  the  discourse,  in  which  she  found  a  little  relief  to 
her  suppressed  emotion. 

"  God  be  thanked  for  that!"  she  exclaimed,  half-uncon 
scious  of  the  interpretation  that  might  be  put  on  her  words ; 
"  All  that  we  have  seen  of  Mr.  Wychecombe  would  lead  us 
to  believe  that  this  is  not  an  unusual,  or  an  accidental  for 
bearance." 

"  So  much  the  more  fortunate  for  him.  I  congratulate 
you,  young  sir,  on  this  triumph  of  principle,  or  of  tempera 
ment,  or  of  both.  We  belong  to  a  profession,  in  which  the 
bottle  is  an  enemy  more  to  be  feared,  than  any  that  the  king 
can  give  us.  A  sailor  can  call  in  no  ally  as  efficient  in 
subduing  this  mortal  foe,  as  an  intelligent  and  cultivated 
mind.  The  man  who  really  thinks  much,  seldom  drinks 
much  ;  but  there  are  hours — nay  weeks  and  months  of  idle- 
ness  in  a  ship,  in  which  the  temptation  to  resort  to  unnatural 
excitement  in  quest  of  pleasure,  is  too  strong  for  minds,  that 
are  not  well  fortified,  to  resist.  This  is  particularly  the 
case  with  commanders,  who  find  themselves  isolated  by 
their  rank,  and  oppressed  with  responsibility,  in  the  privacy 
of  their  own  cabins,  and  get  to  make  a  companion  of  the 
bottle,  by  way  of  seeking  relief  from  uncomfortable  thoughts, 
and  of  creating  a  society  of  their  own.  I  deem  the  critical 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  123 

period  of  a  sailor's  life,  to  be  the  first  few  years  of  solitary 
command." 

"  How  true  ! — how  true  !"  murmured  Mrs.  Button.  "  Oh! 
that  cutter — that  cruel  cutter  !" 

The  truth  flashed  upon  the  recollection  of  Bluewater,  at 
this  unguarded,  and  instantly-regretted  exclamation.  Many 
years  before,  when  only  a  captain  himself,  he  had  been  a 
member  of  a  court-martial  which  cashiered  a  lieutenant 
of  the  name  of  Dutton,  for  grievous  misconduct,  while  in 
command  of  a  cutter ;  the  fruits  of  the  bottle.  From  the 
first,  he  thought  the  name  familiar  to  him  ;  but  so  many 
similar  things  had  happened  in  the  course  of  forty  years' 
service,  that  this  particular  incident  had  been  partially  lost 
in  the  obscurity  of  time.  It  was  now  completely  recalled, 
however  ;  and  that,  too,  with  all  its  attendant  circumstances. 
The  recollection  served  to  give  the  rear-admiral  renewed 
interest  in  the  unhappy  wife,  and  lovely  daughter,  of  the 
miserable  delinquent.  He  had  been  applied  to,  at  the  time, 
for  his  interest  in  effecting  the  restoration  of  the  guilty  officer, 
or  even  to  procure  for  him,  the  hopeless  station  he  now 
actually  occupied ;  but  he  had  sternly  refused  to  be  a  party 
in  placing  any  man  in  authority,  who  was  the  victim  of  a 
propensity  that  not  only  disgraced  himself,  but  which,  in 
the  peculiar  position  of  a  sailor,  equally  jeoparded  the 
honour  of  the  country,  and  risked  the  lives  of  all  around 
him.  He  was  aware  that  the  last  application  had  been  suc 
cessful,  by  means  of  a  court  influence  it  was  very  unusual 
to  exert  in  cases  so  insignificant ;  and,  then,  he  had,  for  years, 
lost  sight  of  the  criminal  and  his  fortunes.  This  unexpected 
revival  of  his  old  impressions,  caused  him  to  feel  like  an 
ancient  friend  of  the  wife  and  daughter ;  for  well  could  he 
recall  a  scene  he  had  with  both,  in  which  the  struggle  be 
tween  his  humanity  and  his  principles  had  been  so  violent 
as  actually  to  reduce  him  to  tears.  Mildred  had  forgotten 
the  name  of  this  particular  officer,  having  been  merely  a 
child  ;  but  well  did  Mrs.  Dutton  remember  it,  and  with  fear 
and  trembling  had  she  come  that  day,  to  meet  him  at  the 
Hall.  The  first  look  satisfied  her  that  she  was  forgotten, 
and  she  had  struggled  herself,  to  bury  in  oblivion,  a  scene 
which  was  one  of  the  most  painful  of  her  life.  The  un- 


124  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

guarded  expression,  mentioned,  entirely  changed  the  state 
of  affairs. 

"  Mrs.  Button,"  said  Bluewater,  kindly  taking  a  hand  of 
the  distressed  wife  ;  "  I  believe  we  are  old  friends  ;  if,  after 
what  has  passed,  you  will  allow  me  so  to  consider  myself." 

"  Ah  !  Admiral  Bluewater,  my  memory  needed  no  ad- 
monisher  to  tell  me  that.  Your  sympathy  and  kindness 
are  as  grateful  to  me,  now,  as  they  were  in  that  dreadful 
moment,  when  we  met  before." 

"  And  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  this  young  lady,  more 
than  once,  on  that  unpleasant  occasion.  This  accounts  for 
a  fancy  that  has  fairly  haunted  me  throughout  the  day  ;  for, 
from  the  instant  my  eye  fell  on  Miss  Mildred,  it  struck  me 
that  the  face,  and  most  of  all,  its  expression,  was  familiar  to 
me.  Certainly  it  is  not  a  countenance,  once  seen,  easily  to 
be  forgotten." 

"  Mildred  was  then  but  a  child,  sir,  and  your  recollection 
must  have  been  a  fancy,  indeed,  as  children  of  her  age  sel 
dom  make  any  lasting  impression  on  the  mind,  particularly 
in  the  way  of  features." 

"  It  is  not  the  features  that  I  recognize,  but  the  expres 
sion  ;  and  that,  I  need  not  tell  the  young  lady's  mother,  is 
an  expression  not  so  very  easily  forgotten.  I  dare  say  Mr. 
Wychecombe  is  ready  enough  to  vouch  for  the  truth  of  what 
I  say." 

"  Hark !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Button,  who  was  sensitively 
alive  to  any  indication  of  the  progress  of  the  debauch. 
"  There  is  great  confusion  in  the  dining-room  ! — I  hope  the 
gentlemen  are  of  one  mind  as  respects  this  rising  in  Scot 
land  !" 

"  If  there  is  a  Jacobite  among  them,  he  will  have  a  warm 
time  of  it ;  with  Sir  Wycherly,  his  nephew,  and  the  vicar — 
all  three  of  whom  are  raging  lions,  in  the  way  of  loyalty. 
There  does,  indeed,  seem  something  out  of  the  way,  for 
those  sounds,  I  should  think,  are  the  feet  of  servants,  run 
ning  to  and  fro.  If  the  servant? '-hall  is  in  the  condition  I 
suspect,  it  will  as  much  need  the  aid  of  the  parlour,  as  the 
parlour  can  possibly — " 

A  tap  at  the  door  caused  Bluewater  to  cease  speaking  ; 
and  as  Wycherly  threw  open  the  entrance,  Galleygo  ap- 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  125 

peared  on  the  threshold,  by  this  time  reduced  to  the  necessity 
of  holding  on  by  the  casings. 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  rear-admiral,  sternly,  for  he  was  no 
longer  disposed  lo  trifle  with  any  of  the  crapulous  set ; 
"  well,  sir,  what  impertinence  has  now  brought  you  here?" 

"  No  impertinence  at  all,  your  honour  ;  we  carries  none 
of  that,  in  the  old  Planter.  There  being  no  young  gentle- 
men,  hereabouts,  to  report  proceedings,  I  thought  I  'd  just 
step  in  and  do  the  duty  with  my  own  tongue.  We  has  so 
many  reports  in  our  cabin,  that  there  isn't  an  officer  in  the 
fleet  that  can  make  'em  better,  as  myself,  sir." 

"  There  are  a  hundred  who  would  spend  fewer  words  on 
anything.  What  is  your  business  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  just  to  report  one  flag  struck,  and  a  com- 
mander-in-chief  on  his  beam-ends." 

"  Good  God  !  Nothing  has  happened  to  Sir  Gervaise — 
speak,  fellow,  or  I  '11  have  you  sent  out  of  this  Babel,  and 
off  to  the  ship,  though  it  were  midnight." 

"  It  be  pretty  much  that,  Admiral  Blue ;  or  past  six  bells  ; 
as  any  one  may  see  by  the  ship's  clock  on  the  great  com 
panion  ladder;  six  bells,  going  well  on  to  seven — " 

"  Your  business,  sir !  what  has  happened  to  Sir  Ger 
vaise?"  repeated  Blue  water,  shaking  his  long  fore-finger 
menacingly,  at  the  steward. 

"  We  are  as  well,  Admiral  Blue,  as  the  hour  we  came 
over  the  Planters  side.  Sir  Jarvy  will  carry  sail  with  the 
best  on  'em,  I  '11  answer  for  it,  whether  the  ship  floats  in  old 
Port  Oporto,  or  in  a  brewer's  vat.  Let  Sir  Jarvy  alone  for 
them  tricks — he  wasn't  a  young  gentleman,  for  nothing." 

"  Have  a  moment's  patience,  sir,"  put  in  Wycherly,  "  and 
I  will  go  myself,  and  ascertain  the  truth." 

"  I  shall  make  but  another  inquiry,"  continued  Admiral 
Bluewater,  as  Wycherly  left  the  room. 

"  Why,  d'ye  see,  your  honour,  old  Sir  Wycherly,  who 
is  commander-in-chief,  along  shore  here,  has  capsized  in 
consequence  of  carrying  sail  too  hard,  in  company  with 
younger  craft ;  and  they  're  now  warping  him  into  dock  to 
be  overhauled." 

"  Is  this  all ! — that  was  a  result  to  be  expected,  in  such  a 
debauch.     You  need  not  have  put  on  so  ominous  a  face,  for 
this,  Galleygo.' 
11* 


126  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"No,  sir,  so  I  thought,  myself;  and  I  only  tried  to  look 
as  melancholy  as  a  young  gentleman  who  is  sent  below  to 
report  a  top-gallant-mast  over  the  side,  or  a  studding-sail- 
boom  gone  in  the  iron.  D'ye  remember  the  time,  Admiral 
Blue,  when  you  thought  to  luff  up  on  the  old  Planter's 
weather-quarter,  and  get  between  her  and  the  French  ninety 
on  three  decks,  and  how  your  stu'n-sails  went,  one  a'ter 
another,  just  like  so  many  musherrooms  breaking  in  peel- 
ing?" 

Galleygo,  who  was  apt  to  draw  his  images  from  his  two 
trades,  might  have  talked  on  an  hour,  without  interruption , 
for,  while  he  was  uttering  the  above  sentence,  Wycherly 
returned,  and  reported  that  their  host  was  seriously,  even 
dangerously  ill.  While  doing  the  honours  of  his  table,  he 
had  been  seized  with  a  fit,  which  the  vicar,  a  noted  three- 
bottle  man,  feared  was  apoplexy.  Mr.  Rotherham  had  bled 
the  patient,  who  was  already  a  little  better,  and  an  express 
had  been  sent  for  a  medical  man.  As  a  matter  of  course, 
the  convives  had  left  the  table,  and  alarm  was  frightening 
the  servants  into  sobriety.  At  Mrs.  Button's  earnest  re 
quest,  Wycherly  immediately  left  the  room  again,  forcing 
Galleygo  out  before  him,  with  a  view  to  get  more  accurate 
information  concerning  the  baronet's  real  situation  ;  both  the 
mother  and  daughter  feeling  a  real  affection  for  Sir  Wy 
cherly  ;  the  kind  old  man  having  won  their  hearts  by  his 
habitual  benevolence,  and  a  constant  concern  for  their 
welfare. 

"  Sic  transit  gloria  mundi"  muttered  Admiral  Bluewater, 
as  he  threw  his  tall  person,  in  his  own  careless  manner,  on 
a  chair,  in  a  dark  corner  of  the  room.  "  This  baronet  has 
fallen  from  his  throne,  in  a  moment  of  seeming  prosperity 
and  revelry  ;  why  may  not  another  do  the  same?" 

Mrs.  Button  heard  the  voice,  without  distinguishing  the 
words,  and  she  felt  distressed  at  the  idea  that  one  whom  she 
so  much  respected  and  loved,  might  be  judged  of  harshly, 
by  a  man  of  the  rear-admiral's  character. 

"  Sir  Wycherly  is  one  of  the  kindest-hearted  men,  breath 
ing,"  she  said,  a  little  hurriedly  ;  "  and  there  is  not  a  better 
landlord  in  England.  Then  he  is  by  no  means  addicted  to 
indulgence  at  table,  more  than  is  customary  with  gentlemen 
of  his  station.  His  loyalty  has,  no  doubt,  carried  him  this 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  127 

evening  farther  than  was  prudent,  or  than  we  could  have 
wished." 

"  I  have  every  disposition  to  think  favourably  of  our  poor 
host,  my  dear  Mrs.  Button,  and  we  seamen  are  not  accus 
tomed  to  judge  a  bon  vivant  too  harshly." 

"  Ah !  Admiral  Bluewater,  you,  who  have  so  wide-spread 
a  reputation  for  sobriety  and  correct  deportment !  Well  do 
I  remember  how  I  trembled,  when  I  heard  your  name  men 
tioned  as  one  of  the  leading  members  of  that  dreadful 
court  ]" 

"  You  let  your  recollections  dwell  too  much  on  these  un 
pleasant  subjects,  Mrs.  Button,  and  I  should  like  to  see  you 
setting  an  example  of  greater  cheerfulness  to  your  sweet 
daughter.  I  could  not  befriend  you,  then,  for  my  oath  and 
my  duty  were  both  against  it ;  but,  now,  there  exists  no 
possible  reason,  why  I  should  not ;  while  there  does  exist 
almost  every  possible  disposition,  why  I  should.  This  sweet 
child  interests  me  in  a  way  I  can  hardly  describe." 

Mrs.  Button  was  silent  and  thoughtful.  The  years  of 
Admiral  Bluewater  did  not  absolutely  forbid  his  regarding 
Mildred's  extreme  beauty,  with  the  eyes  of  ordinary  admira 
tion  ;  but  his  language,  and  most  of  all,  his  character, 
ought  to  repel  the  intrusive  suspicion.  Still  Mildred  was 
surpassingly  lovely,  and  men  were  surpassingly  weak  in 
matters  of  love.  Many  a  hero  had  passed  a  youth  of  self- 
command  and  discretion,  to  consummate  some  act  of  exceed 
ing  folly,  of  this  very  nature,  in  the  decline  of  life ;  and 
bitter  experience  had  taught  her  to  be  distrustful.  Never 
theless,  she  could  not,  at  once,  bring  herself  to  think  ill  of 
one,  whose  character  she  had  so  long  respected ;  and,  with 
all  the  rear-admiral's  directness  of  manner,  there  was  so 
much  real  and  feeling  delicacy,  blended  with  the  breeding 
of  a  gentleman-like  sailor,  that  it  was  not  easy  to  suppose 
he  had  any  other  motives  than  those  he  saw  fit  to  avow. 
Mildred  had  made  many  a  friend,  by  a  sweetness  of  coun 
tenance,  that  was  even  more  winning,  than  her  general 
beruty  of  face  and  form  was  attractive  ;  and  why  should 
not  thus  respectable  old  seaman  be  of  the  number. 

This  train  of  thought  was  interrupted  by  the  sudden  and 
unwelcome  appearance  of  Button.  He  had  just  returned 


128  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

from  the  bed-side  of  Sir  Wycherly,  and  now  came  to  seek 
his  wife  and  daughter,  to  bid  them  prepare  to  enter  the 
chariot,  which  was  in  waiting  to  convey  them  home.  The 
miserable  man  was  not  intoxicated,  in  the  sense  which 
deprives  a  man  of  the  use  of  speech  and  limbs ;  but  he  had 
drunk  quite  enough  to  awaken  the  demon  within  him,  and 
to  lay  bare  the  secrets  of  his  true  character.  If  anything, 
his  nerves  were  better  strung  than  common ;  but  the  wine 
had  stirred  up  all  the  energies  of  a  being,  whose  resolutions 
seldom  took  the  direction  of  correct  feeling,  or  of  right 
doing.  The  darkness  of  the  room,  and  a  slight  confusion 
which  nevertheless  existed  in  his  brain,  prevented  him  from 
noticing  the  person  of  his  superior,  seated,  as  the  latter  was, 
in  the  dark  corner ;  and  he  believed  himself  once  more 
alone  with  those  who  were  so  completely  dependent  on  his 
mercy,  and  who  had  so  long  been  the  subjects  of  his  brutality 
and  tyranny. 

"  I  hope  Sir  Wycherly  is  better,  Button,"  the  wife  com 
menced,  fearful  that  her  husband  might  expose  himself  and 
her,  before  he  was  aware  of  the  presence  in  which  he  stood. 
"  Admiral  Bluewater  is  as  anxious,  as  we  are  ourselves,  to 
know  his  real  state." 

"  Ay,  you  women  are  all  pity  and  feeling  for  baronets 
and  rear-admirals,"  answered  Dutton,  throwing  himself 
rudely  into  a  chair,  with  his  back  towards  the  stranger,  in 
an  attitude  completely  to  exclude  the  latter  from  his  view  ; 
"  while  a  husband,  or  father,  might  die  a  hundred  deaths, 
and  not  draw  a  look  of  pity  from  your  beautiful  eyes,  or  a 
kind  word  from  your  devilish  tongues." 

"  Neither  Mildred  nor  I,  merit  this  from  you,  Dutton  !" 

"  No,  you  're  both  perfection  ;  like  mother,  like  child. 
Haven't  I  been,  fifty  times,  at  death's  door,  with  this  very 
complaint  of  Sir  Wycherly's,  and  did  either  of  you  ever 
send  for  an  apothecary,  even  ?" 

"  You  have  been  occasionally  indisposed,  Dutton,  but 
never  apoplectic ;  and  we  have  always  thought  a  little  sleep 
would  restore  you  ;  as,  indeed,  it  always  has." 

"  What  business  had  you  to  think  1  Surgeons  think,  and 
medical  men,  and  it  was  your  duty  to  send  for  the  nearest 
professional  man,  to  look  after  one  you  're  bound  both  to 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  129 

honour,  and  obey.  You  are  your  own  mistress,  Martha,  I 
do  suppose,  in  a  certain  degree ;  and  what  can't  be  cured 
must  be  endured ;  but  Mildred  is  my  child ;  and  I  '11  have 
her  respect  and  love,  if  1  break  both  your  hearts  in  order  to 
get  at  them," 

"  A  pious  daughter  always  respects  her  parent,  Dutton," 
eaid  the  wife,  trembling  from  head  to  foot ;  "  but  love  must 
come  willingly,  or,  it  will  not  come  at  all." 

"  We  '11  see  as  to  that,  Mrs.  Martha  Dutton  ;  we  '11  see  as 
to  that.  Come  hither,  Mildred  ;  I  have  a  word  to  say  to 
you,  which  may  as  well  be  said  at  once." 

Mildred,  trembling  like  her  mother,  drew  near ;  but  with 
a  feeling  of  filial  piety,  that  lio  harshness  could  entirely 
smother,  she  felt  anxious  to  prevent  the  father  from  further  ex 
posing  himself,  in  the  presence  of  Admiral  Bluewater.  With 
this  view,  then,  and  with  this  view  only,  she  summoned 
firmness  enough  to  speak. 

"  Father,"  she  said,  "  had  we  not  better  defer  our  family 
matters,  until  we  are  alone  ?" 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  Bluewater  would  not  have 
waited  for  so  palpable  a  hint,  for  he  would  have  retired  on 
the  first  appearance  of  anything  so  disagreeable  as  a  misun 
derstanding  between  man  and  wife.  But,  an  ungovernable 
interest  in  the  lovely  girl,  who  stood  trembling  at  her  father's 
knee,  caused  him  to  forget  his  habitual  delicacy  of  feeling, 
and  to  overlook  what  might  perhaps  be  termed  almost  a  law 
of  society.  Instead  of  moving,  therefore,  as  Mildred  had 
both  hoped  and  expected,  he  remained  motionless  in  his 
seat.  Button's  mind  was  too  obtuse  to  comprehend  his 
daughter's  allusions,  in  the  absence  of  ocular  evidence  of  a 
stranger's  presence,  and  his  wrath  was  too  much  excited  to 
oermit  him  to  think  much  of  anything  but  his  own  causes 
of  indignation. 

"  Stand  more  in  front  of  me,  Mildred,"  he  answered, 
angrily.  "  More  before  my  face,  as  becomes  one  who 
don't  know  her  duty  to  her  parent,  and  needs  be  taught  it." 

"  Oh  !  Dutton,"  exclaimed  the  afflicted  wife  ;  "  do  not — 
do  not — accuse  Mildred  of  being  undutiful !  You  know  not 
what  you  say — know  not  her  obliga — you  cannot  know  her 
heart,  or  you  would  not  use  these  cruel  imputations  !" 

"  Silence,  Mrs.  Martha  Dutton — my  business  is  not  with 


130  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

you,  at  present,  but  with  this  young  lady,  to  whom,  I  hopej 
I  may  presume  to  speak  a  little  plainly,  as  she  is  my  OWE 
child.  Silence,  then,  Mrs.  Martha  Button.  If  my  memory 
is  not  treacherous,  you  once  stood  up  before  God's  altar 
with  me,  and  there  vow'd  to  love,  honour,  and  obey.  Yes, 
that  was  the  word  ;  obey,  Mrs.  Martha  Dutton." 

"  And  what  did  you  promise,  at  the  same  time,  Frank  ?" 
exclaimed  the  wife,  from  whose  bruised  spirit  this  implied 
accusation  was  torn  in  an  agony  of  mental  suffering. 

"  Nothing  but  what  t  have  honestly  and  manfully  per 
formed.  I  promised  to  provide  for  you  ;  to  give  you  food 
and  raiment ;  to  let  you  bear  my  name,  and  stand  before 
the  world  in  the  honourable  character  of  honest  Frank 
Button's  wife." 

"  Honourable  !"  murmured  the  wife,  loud  enough  to  be 
heard  by  both  the  Admiral  and  Mildred,  and  yet  in  a  tone 
so  smothered,  as  to  elude  the  obtuse  sense  of  hearing,  that 
long  excess  had  left  her  husband.  When  this  expressive 
word  had  broken  out  of  her  very  heart,  however,  she  suc 
ceeded  in  suppressing  her  voice,  and  sinking  into  a  chair, 
concealed  her  face  in  her  hands,  in  silence. 

"  Mildred,  come  hither,"  resumed  the  brutalized  parent. 
*'  You  are  my  daughter,  and  whatever  others  have  promised 
at  the  altar,  and  forgotten,  a  law  of  nature  teaches  you  to 
obey  me.  You  have  two  admirers,  either  of  whom  you 
ought  to  be  glad  to  secure,  though  there  is  a  great  preference 
between  them — " 

"  Father!"  exclaimed  Mildred,  every  feeling  of  her  sensi 
tive  nature  revolting  at  this  coarse  allusion  to  a  connection, 
and  to  sentiments,  that  she  was  accustomed  to  view  as 
among  the  most  sacred  and  private  of  her  moral  being. 
"  Surely,  you  cannot  mean  what  you  say  !" 

"  Like  mother,  like  child  !  Let  but  disobedience  and  dis 
respect  get  possession  of  a  wife,  and  they  are  certain  to  run 
through  a  whole  family,  even  though  there  were  a  dozen 
children !  Harkee,  Miss  Mildred,  it  is  you  who  don't 
happen  to  know  what  you  say,  while  I  understand  myself 
as  well  as  most  parents.  Your  mother  would  never  acquaint 
you  with  what  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  put  plainly  before  your 
judgment ;  and,  therefore,  I  expect  you  to  listen  as  becomes 
a  dutiful  and  affectionate  child.  You  can  secure  either  of 


THE     TWO    ADMIRALS.  131 

Jiese  young  Wychecombes,  and  either  of  them  would  be  a 
good  match  for  a  poor,  disgraced,  sailing-master's  daughter." 

"  Father,  I  shall  sink  through  the  floor,  if  you  say  an 
other  word,  in  this  cruel  manner  !" 

"  No,  dear ;  you  '11  neither  sink  nor  swim,  unless  it  be  by 
making  a  bad,  or  a  good  choice.  Mr.  Thomas  Wyche- 
combe  is  Sir  Wycherly's  heir,  and  must  be  the  next  baronet, 
and  possessor  of  this  estate.  Of  course  he  is  much  the  best 
thing,  and  you  ought  to  give  him  a  preference." 

"  Button,  can  you,  as  a  father  and  a  Christian,  give  such 
heartless  counsel  to  your  own  child  !"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Dut- 
ton,  inexpressibly  shocked  at  the  want  of  principle,  as  well 
as  at  the  want  of  feeling,  discovered  in  her  husband's  advice. 

"  Mrs.  Martha  Button,  I  can ;  and  believe  the  counsel  to 
be  anything  but  heartless,  too.  Bo  you  wish  your  daughtei 
to  be  the  wife  of  a  miserable  signal-station  keeper,  when  sho 
may  become  Lady  Wychecombe,  with  a  little  prudent  man 
agement,  and  the  mistress  of  this  capital  old  house,  and 
noble  estate?" 

"  Father — father,"  interrupted  Mildred,  soothingly,  though 
ready  to  sink  with  shame  at  the  idea  of  Admiral  Bluewater's 
being  an  auditor  of  such  a  conversation ;  "  you  forget  your 
self,  and  overlook  my  wishes.  There  is  little  probability  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe's  ever  thinking  of  me  as  a  wife — 
or,  indeed,  of  any  one  else's  entertaining  such  thoughts." 

"  That  will  turn  out,  as  you  manage  matters,  Milly.  Mr. 
Thomas  Wychecombe  does  not  think  of  you  as  a  wife, 
quite  likely,  just  at  this  moment ;  but  the  largest  whales  are 
taken  by  means  of  very  small  lines,  when  the  last  are  pro 
perly  handled.  This  young  lieutenant  would  have  you  to 
morrow  ;  though  a  more  silly  thing  than  for  you  two  to 
marry,  could  not  well  be  hit  upon.  He  is  only  a  lieutenant ; 
and  though  his  name  is  so  good  a  one,  it  does  not  appear 
that  he  has  any  particular  right  to  it." 

"  And  yet,  Button,  you  were  only  a  lieutenant  when  you 
married,  and  your  name  was  nothing  in  the  way  of  interest, 
or  preferment,"  observed  the  mother,  anxious  to  interpose 
some  new  feeling  between  her  daughter,  and  the  cruel  in 
ference  left,  by  the  former  part  of  her  husband's  speech. 
1  We  then  thought  all  lay  bright  before  us  !" 

"And  so  all  would  lie  to  this  hour,  Mrs.  Butter*  but  for 


132  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

that  one  silly  act  of  mine.  A  man  with  the  charges  of  a 
family  on  him,  little  pay,  and  no  fortune,  is  driven  to  a 
thousand  follies  to  hide  his  misery.  You  do  not  strengthen 
your  case  by  reminding  me  of  that  imprudence.  But,  Mil 
dred,  I  do  not  tell  you  to  cut  adrift  this  young  Virginian,  for 
he  may  be  of  use  in  more  ways  than  one.  In  the  first  place, 
you  can  play  him  off  against  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe ; 
and,  in  the  second  place,  a  lieutenant  is  likely,  one  day,  to 
be  a  captain ;  and  the  wife  of  a  captain  in  His  Majesty's 
navy,  is  no  disreputable  berth.  I  advise  you,  girl,  to  use 
this  youngster  as  a  bait  to  catch  the  heir  with ;  and,  failing 
a  good  bite,  to  take  up  with  the  lad  himself." 

This  was  said  dogmatically,  and  with  a  coarseness  of 
manner  that  fully  corresponded  with  the  looseness  of  the 
principles,  and  the  utter  want  of  delicacy  of  feeling  that 
alone  could  prompt  such  advice.  Mrs.  Dutton  fairly 
groaned,  as  she  listened  to  her  husband,  for  never  before 
had  he  so  completely  thrown  aside  the  thin  mask  of  decency 
that  he  ordinarily  wore ;  but  Mildred,  unable  to  control  the 
burst  of  wild  emotion  that  came  over  her,  broke  away  from 
the  place  she  occupied  at  her  father's  knee,  and,  as  if  blindly 
seeking  protection  in  any  asylum  that  she  fancied  safe, 
found  herself  sobbing,  as  if  her  heart  would  break,  in  Admi 
ral  Bluewater's  arms. 

Dutton  followed  the  ungovernable,  impulsive  movement, 
with  his  eye,  and  for  the  first  time  he  became  aware  in 
whose  presence  he  had  been  exposing  his  native  baseness. 
Wine  had  not  so  far  the  mastery  of  him,  as  to  blind  him  to 
all  the  consequences,  though  it  did  stimulate  him  to  a  point 
that  enabled  him  to  face  the  momentary  mortification  of  his 
situation. 

"  I  beg  a  thousand  pardons,  sir,"  he  said,  rising,  and 
bowing  low  to  his  superior;  "  I  was  totally  ignorant  that  I 
had  the  honour  to  be  in  the  company  of  Admiral  Bluewater 
— Admiral  Blue,  I  find  Jack  calls  you,  sir  ;  ha-ha-ha — a  fa 
miliarity  which  is  a  true  sign  of  love  and  respect.  I  never 
knew  n.  captain,  or  a  flag-officer,  that  got  a  regular,  expres 
sive  ship's  name,  that  he  wasn't  the  delight  of  the  whole 
service.  Yes,  sir  ;  I  find  the  people  call  Sir  Gervaise,  Little 
Jarvy,  and  yourself,  Admiral  Blue — Ha-ha-ha — an  infallible 
sign  of  merit  in  the  superior,  and  of  lovo  in  the  men.'* 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  133 

"  I  ought  to  apologize,  Mr.  Button,  for  making  one,  so 
unexpectedly  to  myself,  in  a  family  council,"  returned  the 
rear-admiral.  "  As  for  the  men,  they  are  no  great  philoso 
phers,  though  tolerable  judges  of  when  they  are  well  com 
manded,  and  well  treated. — But,  the  hour  is  late,  and  it  was 
my  intention  to  sleep  in  my  own  ship,  to-night.  The  coach 
of  Sir  Wycherly  has  been  ordered  to  carry  me  to  the  land 
ing,  and  I  hope  to  have  your  permission  to  see  these  ladies 
home  in  it." 

The  answer  of  Button  was  given  with  perfect  self-posses 
sion,  and  in  a  manner  to  show  that  he  knew  how  to  exer 
cise  the  courtesies  of  life,  or  to  receive  them,  when  in  the 
humour. 

"  It  is  an  honour,  sir,  they  will  not  think  of  declining,  if 
my  wishes  are  consulted,"  he  said.  "  Come,  Milly,  foolish 
girl,  dry  your  tears,  and  smile  on  Admiral  Bluewater,  for 
his  condescension.  Young  women,  sir,  hardly  know  how 
to  take  a  joke  ;  and  our  ship's  humours  are  sometimes  a 
little  strong  for  them.  I  tell  my  dear  wife,  sometimes  — 
'  wife,'  I  say,  *  His  Majesty  can't  have  stout-hearted  and 
stout-handed  seamen,  and  the  women  poets  and  die-away 
swains,  and  all  in  the  same  individual,'  says  I.  Mrs.  Button 
understands  me,  sir;  and  so  does  little  Milly;  who  is  an 
excellent  girl  in  the  main ;  though  a  little  addicted  to  using 
the  eye-pumps,  as  we  have  it  aboard  ship,  sir." 

"  And,  now,  Mr.  Button,  it  being  understood  that  I  am 
to  see  the  ladies  home,  will  you  do  me  the  favour  to  inquire 
after  the  condition  of  Sir  Wycherly.  One  would  not  wish 
to  quit  his  hospitable  roof,  in  uncertainty  as  to  his  actual 
situation." 

Button  was  duly  sensible  of  an  awkwardness  in  the 
presence  of  his  superior,  and  he  gladly  profited  by  this  com 
mission  to  quit  the  room  ;  walking  more  steadily  than  if  he 
had  not  been  drinking. 

All  this  time,  Mildred  hung  on  Admiral  Bluewater's  shoul 
der,  weeping,  and  unwilling  to  quit  a  place  that  seemed  to 
her,  in  her  fearful  agitation,  a  sort  of  sanctuary. 

"  Mrs.  Button,"  said  Bluewater,  first  kissing  the  cheek  of 
his  lovely  burthen,  in  a  manner  so  parental,  that  the  most 
sensitive  delicacy  cou'd  not  have  taken  the  alarm ;  "  you 
12 


134  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

will  succeed  better  than  myself,  in  quieting  the  feelings  of 
this  little  trembler.  I  need  hardly  say  that  if  I  have  acci- 
dentally  overheard  more  than  I  ought,  it  is  as  much  a  secret 
with  me,  as  it  would  be  with  your  own  brother.  The 
characters  of  all  cannot  be  affected  by  the  mistaken  and 
excited  calculations  of  one ;  and  this  occasion  has  served  to 
make  me  better  acquainted  with  you,  and  your  admirable 
daughter,  than  I  might  otherwise  have  been,  by  means  of 
years  of  ordinary  intercourse." 

"  Oh  !  Admiral  Bluewater,  do  not  judge  him  too  harshly ! 
He  has  been  too  long  at  that  fatal  table,  which  I  fear  has 
destroyed  poor  dear  Sir  Wycherly,  and  knew  not  what  he 
said.  Never  before  have  I  seen  him  in  such  a  fearful 
humour,  or  in  the  least  disposed  to  trifle  with,  or  to  wound  the 
feelings  of  this  sweet  child  !" 

"  Her  extreme  agitation  is  a  proof  of  this,  my  good 
madam,  and  shows  all  you  can  wish  to  say.  View  me  as 
your  sincere  friend,  and  place  every  reliance  on  my  discre 
tion." 

The  wounded  mother  listened  with  gratitude,  and  Mildred 
withdrew  from  her  extraordinary  situation,  wondering  by 
what  species  of  infatuaticn  she  co'ild  have  been  led  to 
adopt  it 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  135 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  Ah,  Montague, 

If  thou  be  there,  sweet  brother,  take  my  hand, 
And  with  thy  lips  keep  in  my  soul  awhile  ! 
Thou  lov'st  me  not;  for,  brother,  if  thou  didst, 
Thy  tears  would  wash  this  cold  congealed  blood 
That  glues  my  lips,  and  will  not  let  me  speak. 
Come  quickly,  Montague,  or  I  am  dead." 

KINO  HENRY  VI. 

SIR  WYCHERLY  had  actually  been  seized  with  a  fit  of 
apoplexy.  It  was  the  first  serious  disease  he  had  experienced 
in  a  long  life  of  health  and  prosperity ;  and  the  sight  of 
their  condescending,  good-humoured,  and  indulgent  master, 
in  a  plight  so  miserable,  had  a  surprising  effect  on  the 
heated  brains  of  all  the  household.  Mr.  Rotherham,  a  good 
three-bottle  man,  on  emergency,  had  learned  to  bleed,  and 
fortunately  the  vein  he  struck,  as  his  patient  still  lay  on  the 
floor,  where  he  had  fallen,  sent  out  a  stream  that  had  the 
effect  not  only  to  restore  the  baronet  to  life,  but,  in  a  great 
measure,  to  consciousness.  Sir  Wycherly  was  not  a  hard 
drinker,  like  Button ;  but  he  was  a  fair  drinker,  like  Mr. 
Rotherham,  and  most  of  the  beneficed  clergy  of  that  day. 
Want  of  exercise,  as  he  grew  older,  had  as  much  influence 
in  producing  this  attack  as  excess  of  wine;  and  there  were, 
already,  strong  hopes  of  his  surviving  it,  aided  as  he  was, 
by  a  good  constitution.  The  apothecary  had  reached  the 
Hall,  within  five  minutes  after  the  attack,  having  luckily 
been  prescribing  to  the  gardener ;  and  the  physician  and 
surgeon  of  the  family  were  both  expected  in  the  course  of 
the  morning. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  been  acquainted  with  the  state 
of  his  host,  by  his  own  valet,  as  soon  as  it  was  known  in 
the  servants'-hall,  and  being  a  man  of  action,  he  did  not 
hesitate  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  chamber  of  the  sick,  to 
offer  his  own  aid,  in  the  absence  of  that  which  might  be 
better.  At  the  door  of  the  chamber,  he  met  Atwood,  who 
had  been  summoned  from  his  pen,  and  they  entered  together 


136  THE     TWOADMIRALSr 

the  vice-admiral  feeling  for  a  lancet  in  his  pocket,  for  he, 
too,  had  acquired  the  art  of  the  blood-letter.  They  now 
learned  the  actual  state  of  things. 

"Where  is  Blue  water  ?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  after 
regarding  his  host  a  moment  with  commiseration  and  con- 
cern.  "  1  hope  he  has  not  yet  left  the  house." 

"  He  is  still  here,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  I  should  think  on  the 
point  of  quitting  us.  I  heard  him  say,  that,  notwithstand 
ing  all  Sir  Wycherly's  kind  plans  to  detain  him,  he  intended 
to  sleep  in  his  own  ship." 

"  That  I  Ve  never  doubted,  though  I  've  affected  to  be-; 
lieve  otherwise.  Go  to  him,  Atwood,  and  say  I  beg  he  will 
pull  within  hail  of  the  Plantagenet,  as  he  goes  off,  and  desire 
Mr.  Magrath  to  come  ashore,  as  soon  as  possible.  There 
shall  be  a  conveyance  at  the  landing  to  bring  him  here  ; 
and  he  may  order  his  own  surgeon  to  come  also,  if  it  be 
agreeable  to  himself." 

With  these  instructions  the  secretary  left  the  room ;  while 
Sir  Gervaise  turned  to  Tom  Wychecombe,  and  said  a  few 
of  the  words  customary  on  such  melancholy  occasions. 

"  I  think  there  is  hope,  sir?"  he  added,  "  yes  sir,  I  think 
there  is  hope ;  though  your  honoured  relative  is  no  longer 
young — still,  this  early  bleeding  has  been  a  great  thing; 
and  if  we  can  gain  a  little  time  for  poor  Sir  Wycherly,  our 
efforts  will  not  be  thrown  away.  Sudden  death  is  awful, 
sir,  and  few  of  us  are  prepared  for  it,  either  in  mind,  or 
affairs.  We  sailors  have  to  hold  our  lives  in  our  hands,  it 
is  true,  but  then  it  is  for  king  and  country  ;  and  we  hope  for 
mercy  on  all  who  fall  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties.  For 
my  part,  I  am  never  unprovided  with  a  will,  and  that  dis 
poses  of  all  the  interests  of  this  world,  while  I  humbly  trust 
in  the  Great  Mediator,  for  the  hereafter.  I  hope  Sir  Wy 
cherly  is  equally  provident  as  to  his  worldly  affairs  ?" 

"  No  doubt  my  dear  uncle  could  wish  to  leave  certain 
trifling  memorials  behind  him  to  a  few  of  his  intimates," 
returned  Tom,  with  a  dejected  countenance ;  "  but  he  has 
not  been"  without  a  will,  1  believe,  for  some  time  ;  and  I  pre 
sume  you  will  agree  with  me  in  thinking  he  is  not  in  a  con 
dition  to  make  one,  now,  were  he  unprovided  in  that  way  ?" 

"  Perhaps  not  exactly  at  this  moment,  though  a  rally 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  137 

might  afford  an  opportunity.  The  estate  is  entailed,  I  think 
Mr.  Dutton  told  me,  at  dinner." 

"  It  is,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  I  am  the  unworthy  individual 
who  is  to  profit  by  it,  according  to  the  common  notions  of 
men,  though  Heaven  knows  I  shall  consider  it  anything  but 
a  gain ;  still,  I  am  the  unworthy  individual  who  is  to  be 
benefited  by  my  uncle's  death." 

"  Your  father  was  the  baronet's  next  brother  ?"  observed 
Sir  Gervaise,  casually,  a  shade  of  distrust  passing  athwart 
his  mind,  though  coming  from  what  source,  or  directed  to 
what  point,  he  was  himself  totally  unable  to  say.  "  Mr. 
Baron  Wychecombe,  I  believe,  was  your  parent  ?" 

"  He  was,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  a  most  tender  and  indulgent 
father,  I  ever  found  him.  He  left  me  his  earnings,  some 
seven  hundred  a  year,  and  I  am  sure  the  death  of  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  is  as  far  from  my  necessities,  as  it  is  from  my 
wishes." 

"  Of  course  you  will  succeed  to  the  baronetcy,  as  well  as 
to  the  estate  ?"  mechanically  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  led  on  by 
the  supererogatory  expressions  of  Tom,  himself,  rather  than 
by  a  vulgar  curiosity,  to  ask  questions  that,  under  other  cir 
cumstances,  he  might  have  thought  improper. 

"  Of  course,  sir.  My  father  was  the  only  surviving  bro 
ther  of  Sir  Wycherly  ;  the  only  one  who  ever  married ;  and 
I  am  his  eldest  child.  Since  this  melancholy  event  has 
occurred,  it  is  quite  fortunate  that  I  lately  obtained  this  cer 
tificate  of  the  marriage  of  my  parents — is  it  not,  sir?" 

Here  Tom  drew  from  his  pocket  a  soiled  piece  of  paper, 
which  professed  to  be  a  certificate  of  the  marriage  of  Thomas 
Wychecombe,  barrister,  with  Martha  Dodd,  spinster,  &c. 
&c.  The  document  was  duly  signed  by  the  rector  of  a 
parish  church  in  Westminster,  and  bore  a  date  sufficiently 
old  to  establish  the  legitimacy  of  the  person  who  held  it. 
This  extraordinary  precaution  produced  the  very  natural 
effect  of  increasing  the  distrust  of  the  vice-admirai,  and,  in 
a  slight  degree,  of  giving  it  a  direction. 

"  You  go  well  armed,  sir,"  observed  Sir  Gervaise,  drily. 
"  Is  it  your  intention,  when  you  succeed,  to  carry  the  patent 
of  the  baronetcy,  and  the  title-deeds,  in  your  pocket  ?" 

"  Ah  !  I  perceive  my  having  this  document  strikes  you 
as  odd,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  it  can  be  easily  explained.  There 
12* 


6  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

was  d  wide  difference  in  rank  between  my  parents,  and 
some  ill-disposed  persons  have  presumed  so  far  to  reflect  on 
the  character  of  my  mother,  as  to  assert  she  was  not  married 
at  all." 

"  In  which  case,  sir,  you  would  do  well  to  cut  off  half-a- 
dozen  of  their  ears." 

"  The  law  is  not  to  be  appeased  in  that  way,  Sir  Gervaise. 
My  dear  parent  used  to  inculcate  on  me  the  necessity  of 
doing  everything  according  to  law ;  and  I  endeavour  to 
remember  his  precepts.  He  avowed  his  marriage  on  his 
death-bed,  made  all  due  atonement  to  my  respected  and  in 
jured  mother,  and  informed  me  in  whose  hands  I  should 
find  this  very  certificate ;  I  only  obtained  it  this  morning, 
which  fact  will  account  for  its  being  in  my  pocket,  at  this 
melancholy  and  unexpected  crisis,  in  my  beloved  uncle's 
constitution." 

The  latter  part  of  Tom's  declaration  was  true  enough  ; 
for,  after  having  made  all  the  necessary  inquiries,  and  ob 
tained  the  hand-writing  of  a  clergyman  who  was  long  since 
dead,  he  had  actually  forged  the  certificate  that  day,  on  a 
piece  of  soiled  paper,  that  bore  the  water-mark  of  1720. 
His  language,  however,  contributed  to  alienate  the  confidence 
of  his  listener  ;  Sir  Gervaise  being  a  man  who  was  so  much 
accustomed  to  directness  and  fair-dealing,  himself,  as  to  feel 
disgust  at  anything  that  had  the  semblance  of  cant  or  hy 
pocrisy.  Nevertheless,  he  had  his  own  motives  for  pursuing 
the»subject ;  the  presence  of  neither  at  the  bed-side  of  the 
sufferer,  being  just  then  necessary. 

"And  this  Mr.  Wycherly  Wychecombe,"  he  said;  "he 
who  has  so  much  distinguished  himself  of  late  ;  your  uncle's 
namesake ; — is  it  true  that  he  is  not  allied  to  your  family  ?" 

"  Not  in  the  least,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Tom,  with 
one  of  his  sinister  smiles.  "  He  is  only  a  Virginian,  you 
know,  sir,  and  cannot  well  belong  to  us\  I  have  heard  my 
•jncle  say,  often,  that  the  young  gentleman  must  be  de 
scended  from  an  old  servant  of  his  father's,  who  was  trans 
ported  for  stealing  silver  out  of  a  shop  on  Ludgate  Hill,  and 
who  was  arrested  for  passing  himself  off,  as  one  of  the 
Wychecombe  family.  They  tell  me,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  the 
colonies  are  pretty  much  made  of  persons  descended  from 
th»*t  sort  of  ancestors  ?" 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS  139 

"  I  cannot  say  that  I  have  found  it  so ;  though,  when  I 
commanded  a  frigate,  I  served  several  years  on  the  North 
American  station.  The  larger  portion  of  the  Americans, 
like  much  the  larger  portion  of  the  English,  are  humble 
labourers,  established  in  a  remote  colony,  where  civilization 
is  not  far  advanced,  wants  are  many,  and  means  few ;  but, 
in  the  way  of  character,  I  am.  not  certain  they  are  not  quite 
on  a  level  with  those  they  left  behind  them  ;  and,  as  to  the 
gentry  of  the  colonies,  I  have  seen  many  men  of  the  best 
blood  of  the  mother  country  among  them; — younger  sons, 
and  their  descendants,  as  a  matter  of  course,  but  of  an 
honourable  and  respected  ancestry." 

"  Well,  sir,  this  surprises  me;  and  it  is  not  the  general 
opinion,  I  am  persuaded  !  Certainly,  it  is  not  the  fact  as 
respects  this  gentleman — stranger,  I  might  call  him,  for 
stranger  he  is  at  Wychecombe — who  has  not  the  least  right 
to  pretend  to  belong  to  us." 

**  Did  you  ever  know  him  to  lay  claim  to  that  honour, 
sir?" 

"  Not  directly,  Sir  Gervaise ;  though  I  am  told  he  has 
made  many  hints  to  that  effect,  since  he  landed  here  to  be 
cured  of  his  wound.  It  would  have  been  better  had  he  pre 
sented  his  rights  to  the  landlord,  than  to  present  them  to  the 
tenants,  I  think  you  will  allow,  as  a  man  of  honour,  your 
self,  Sir  Gervaise?" 

"  I  can  approve  of  nothing  clandestine  in  matters  that 
require  open  and  fair  dealing,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe. 
But  I  ought  to  apologize  for  thus  dwelling  on  your  family 
affairs,  which  concern  me  only  as  I  feel  an  interest  in  the 
wishes  and  happiness  of  my  new  acquaintance,  my  excellent 
host." 

"  Sir  Wycherly  has  property  in  the  funds  that  is  not  en 
tailed — quite  £1000  a  year,  beyond  the  estates — and  I  know 
he  has  left  a  will,"  continued  Tom ;  who,  with  the  short 
sightedness  of  a  rogue,  flattered  himself  with  having  made  a 
favourable  impression  on  his  companion,  and  who  was  de 
sirous  of  making  him  useful  to  himself,  in  an  emergency 
that  he  felt  satisfied  must  terminate  in  the  speedy  death  of 
his  uncle.  "Yes,  a  good  £1000  a  year,  in  the  fives; 
money  saved  from  his  rents,  in  a  long  life.  This  will  pro 
bably  has  some  provision  in  favour  of  my  younger  brothers ; 


140  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

and  perhaps  of  this  namesake  of  his," — Tom  was  well  aware 
that  it  devised  every  shilling,  real  and  personal,  to  himself* 
— "  for  a  kinder  heart  does  not  exist  on  earth.  In  fact,  this 
will  my  uncle  put  in  my  possession,  as  heir  at  law,  feeling 
it  due  to  my  pretensions,  I  suppose  ;  but  I  have  never  pre 
sumed  to  look  into  it." 

Here  was  another  instance  of  excessive  finesse,  in  which 
Tom  awakened  suspicion  by  his  very  efforts  to  allay  it.  It 
seemed  highly  improbable  to  Sir  Gervaise,  that  a  man  like 
the  nephew  could  long  possess  his  uncle's  will,  and  feel  no 
desire  to  ascertain  its  contents.  The  language  of  the  young 
man  was  an  indirect  admission,  that  he  might  have  examined 
the  will  if  he  would ;  and  the  admiral  felt  disposed  to  sus 
pect  that  what  he  might  thus  readily  have  done,  he  actually 
had  done.  The  dialogue,  however,  terminated  here ;  Dut- 
ton,  just  at  that  moment,  entering  the  room  on  the  errand  on 
which  he  had  been  sent  by  Admiral  Bluewater,  and  Tom 
joining  his  old  acquaintance,  as  soon  as  the  latter  made  his 
appearance.  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  too  much  concerned 
for  the  condition  of  his  host,  and  had  too  many  cares  of  his 
own,  to  think  deeply  or  long  on  what  had  just  passed  between 
himself  and  Tom  Wychecombe.  Had  they  separated  that 
night,  what  had  been  said,  and  the  unfavourable  impressions 
it  had  made,  would  have  been  soon  forgotten ;  but  circum 
stances  subsequently  conspired  to  recall  the  whole  to  his 
mind,  of  which  the  consequences  will  be  related  in  the  course 
of  our  narrative. 

Button  appeared  to  be  a  little  shocked,  as  he  gazed  upon 
the  pallid  features  of  Sir  Wycherly,  and  he  was  not  sorry 
when  Tom  led  him  aside,  and  began  to  speak  confidentially 
of  the  future,  and  of  the  probable  speedy  death  of  his  uncle. 
Had  there  been  one  present,  gifted  with  the  power  of  reading 
the  thoughts  and  motives  of  men,  a  deep  disgust  of  human 
frailties  must  have  come  over  him,  as  these  two  impure 
spirits  betrayed  to  him  their  cupidity  and  cunning.  Out 
wardly,  they  were  friends  mourning  over  a  mutual  probable 
loss ;  while  inwardly,  Button  was  endeavouring  to  obtain 
such  a  hold  of  his  companion's  confidence,  as  might  pave 
the  way  to  his  own  future  preferment  to  the  high  and  un- 
hopcd-for  station  of  a  rich  baronet's  father-in-law ;  while 
Tom  thought  only  of  so  far  mystifying  the  master,  as  to 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  141 

make  use  of  him,  on  an  emergency,  as  a  witness  to  establish 
his  own  claims.  The  manner  in  which  he  endeavoured  to 
effect  his  object,  however,  must  be  left  to  the  imagination  of 
the  reader,  as  we  have  matters  of  greater  moment  to  record 
at  this  particular  juncture. 

From  the  time  Sir  Wycherly  was  laid  on  his  bed,  Mr. 
Rotherham  had  been  seated  at  the  sick  man's  side,  watching 
the  course  of  his  attack,  and  ready  to  interpret  any  cf  the 
patient's  feebly  and  indistinctly  expressed  wishes.  We  say 
indistinctly,  because  the  baronet's  speech  was  slightly  af 
fected  with  that  species  of  paralysis  which  reduces  the 
faculty  to  the  state  that  is  vulgarly  called  thick-tongued. 
Although  a  three-bottle  man,  Mr.  Rotherham  was  far  from 
being  without  his  devout  feelings,  on  occasions,  discharging 
all  the  clerical  functions  with  as  much  unction  as  the  habits 
of  the  country,  and  the  opinions  of  the  day,  ordinarily  ex 
acted  of  divines.  He  had  even  volunteered  to  read  the 
prayers  for  the  sick,  as  soon  as  he  perceived  that  the  patient's 
recollection  had  returned  ;  but  this  kind  offer  had  been  de 
clined  by  Sir  Wycherly,  under  the  clearer  views  of  fitness, 
that  the  near  approach  of  death  is  apt  to  give,  and  which 
views  left  a  certain  consciousness  that  the  party  assembled 
was  not  in  the  best  possible  condition  for  that  sacred  office. 
Sir  Wycherly  revived  so  much,  at  last,  as  to  look  about 
him  with  increasing  consciousness  ;  and,  at  length,  his  eyes 
passed  slowly  over  the  room,  scanning  each  person  singly, 
and  with  marked  deliberation. 

"  I  know  you  all — now,"  said  the  kind-hearted  baronet, 
though  always  speaking  thick,  and  with  a  little  difficulty  ; 
"am  sorry  to  give  —  much  trouble.  I  have — little  time 
to  spare." 

"  I  hope  not,  Sir  Wycherly,"  put  in  the  vicar,  in  a  con 
solatory  manner ;  "  you  have  had  a  sharp  attack,  but  then 
there  is  a  good  constitution  to  withstand  it." 

"  My  time — short — feet  it  here,"  rejoined  the  patient, 
passing  his  hand  over  his  forehead. 

"  Note  that,  Button,"  whispered  Tom  Wycherly.  "  My 
poor  uncle  intimates  himself  that  his  mind  is  a  little  shaken. 
Under  such  circumstances,  it  would  bo  cruel  to  let  him  injure 
himself  with  business." 


142  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  It  cannot  be  done  legally,  Mr.  Thomas — I  should  think 
Admiral  Oakes  would  interfere  to  prevent  it." 

"  Rotherham,"  continued  the  patient,  "  I  will — settle  with 
with — world  ; — then,  give — thoughts — to  God.  Have  we — 
guests — the  house  ? — Men  of  family — character  ?" 

"  Certainly,  Sir  Wycherly ;  Admiral  Oakes  is  in  the 
room,  even ;  and  Admiral  Bluewater,  is,  I  believe,  still  in 
ihe  house.  You  invited  both  to  pass  the  night  with  you." 

"I  remember  it — now;  my  mind  —  still — confused,"  — 
here  Tom  Wychecombe  again  nudged  the  master — "  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes  —  an  Admiral  —  ancient  baronet — man  of 
high  honour.  Admiral  Bluewater,  too  —  relative  —  Lord 
Bluewater;  gentleman  —  universal  esteem.  You,  too,  Ro 
therham  ;  wish  my  poor  brother  James — St.  James, — used  to 
call  him — had  been  living; — you — good  neighbour — Ro 
therham." 

"  Can  I  do  anything  to  prove  it,  my  dear  Sir  Wycherly  1 
Nothing  would  make  me  happier  than  to  know,  and  to 
comply  with,  all  your  wishes,  at  a  moment  so  important !" 

"  Let  all  quit  room — but  yourself — head  feels  worse — 
I  cannot  delay — " 

"  'T  is  cruel  to  distress  my  beloved  uncle  with  business, 
or  conversation,  in  his  present  state,"  interposed  Tom 
Wychecombe,  with  emphasis,  and,  in  a  slight  degree,  with 
authority. 

All  not  only  felt  the  truth  of  this,  but  all  felt  that  the 
speaker,  by  his  consanguinity,  had  a  clear  right  to  interfere, 
in  the  manner  he  had.  Still  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  great 
reluctance  in  yielding  to  this  remonstrance ;  for,  to  the  dis 
trust  he  had  imbibed  of  Tom  Wychecombe,  was  added  an 
impression  that  his  host  wished  to  reveal  something  of  inte 
rest,  in  connection  with  his  new  favourite,  the  lieutenant. 
He  felt  compelled,  notwithstanding,  to  defer  to  the  acknow 
ledged  nephew's  better  claims,  and  he  refrained  from  inter 
fering.  Fortunately,  Sir  Wycherly  was  yet  in  a  state  to 
enforce  his  own  wishes. 

'*  Let  all  quit  —  room,"  he  repeated,  in  a  voice  that  was 
startling  by  its  unexpected  firmness,  and  equally  unexpected 
distinctness.  "  All  but  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes — Admiral  Blue- 
water — Mr.  Rotherham.  Gentlemen — favour  to  remain — 
rest  depart." 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  143 

Accustomed  to  obey  their  master's  orders,  more  especially 
when  given  in  a  tone  so  decided,  the  domestics  quitted  the 
room,  accompanied  by  Dutton  ;  but  Tom  Wychecombe  saw 
fit  to  remain,  as  if  his  presence  were  to  be  a  matter  of 
course. 

"  Do  me  —  favour  —  withdraw,  —  Mr.  Wychecombe," 
resumed  the  baronet,  after  fixing  his  gaze  on  his  nephew 
for  some  time,  as  if  expecting  him  to  retire  without  this 
request. 

"  My  beloved  uncle,  it  is  I — Thomas,  your  own  brother's 
son — your  next  of  kin — waiting  anxiously  by  your  respected 
bed-side.  Do  not— do  not — confound  me  with  strangers. 
Such  a  forgetfulness  would  break  my  heart !" 

"Forgive  me,  nephew — but  I  wish — alone  with  these 
gentle head — getting — confused—" 

u  You  see  how  it  is,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes — you  see  how  it 
is,  Mr.  Rotherham.  Ah  !  there  goes  the  coach  that  is  to 
take  Admiral  Bluewater  to  his  boat.  My  uncle  wished  for 
three  witnesses  to  something,  and  I  can  remain  as  one  of 
the  three." 

"  Is  it  your  pleasure,  Sir  Wycherly,  to  wish  to  see  us 
alone?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  manner  that  showed 
authority  would  be  exercised  to  enforce  his  request,  should 
the  uncle  still  desire  the  absence  of  his  nephew. 

A  sign  from  the  sick  man  indicated  the  affirmative,  and 
that  in  a  manner  too  decided  to  admit  of  mistake. 

"  You  perceive,  Mr.  Wychecombe,  what  are  your  uncle's 
wishes,"  observed  Sir  Gervaise,  very  much  in  the  way  that 
a  well-bred  superior  intimates  to  an  inferior  the  compliance 
he  expects  ;  "  I  trust  his  desire  will  not  be  disregarded,  at  a 
moment  like  this." 

"  I  am  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe's  next  of  kin,"  said 
Tom,  in  a  slightly  bullying  tone ;  "  and  no  one  has  the 
same  right  as  a  relative,  and,  I  may  say,  his  heir,  to  be  at 
his  bed-side." 

"  That  depends  on  the  pleasure  of  Sir  Wycherly  Wyche- 
come  himself,  sir.  He  is  master  here ;  and,  having  done 
me  the  honour  to  invite  me  under  his  roof  as  a  guest,  and, 
now,  having  requested  to  see  me  alone,  with  others  he  has 
expressly  named — one  of  whom  you  are  not — I  shall  con 
ceive  it  my  duty  to  see  his  wishes  obeyed." 


144  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

This  was  said  in  the  firm,  quiet  way,  that  the  habit  of 
command  had  imparted  to  Sir  Gervaise's  manner  ;  and  Tom 
began  to  see  it  might  be  dangerous  to  resist.  It  was  im 
portant,  too,  that  one  of  the  vice-admiral's  character  and 
station  should  have  naught  to  say  against  him,  in  the  event 
of  any  future  controversy ;  and,  making  a  few  professions 
of  respect,  and  of  his  desire  to  please  his  uncle,  Tom  quitted 
the  room. 

A  gleam  of  satisfaction  shot  over  the  sick  man's  coun 
tenance,  as  his  nephew  disappeared  ;  and  then  his  eye  turned 
slowly  towards  the  faces  of  those  who  remained. 

"  Bluewater,"  he  said,  the  thickness  of  his  speech,  and 
the  general  difficulty  of  utterance,  seeming  to  increase  ;  "  the 
rear-admiral — I  want  all — respectable — witnesses  in  the 
house." 

"  My  friend  has  left  us,  I  understand,"  returned  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  "  insisting  on  his  habit  of  never  sleeping  out  of  his 
ship ;  but  Atwood  must  soon  be  back ;  I  hope  he  will 
answer !" 

A  sign  of  assent  was  given ;  and,  then,  there  was  the 
pause  of  a  minute,  or  two,  ere  the  secretary  made  his  ap 
pearance.  As  soon,  however,  as  he  had  returned,  the  three 
collected  around  the  baronet's  bed,  not  without  some  of  the 
weakness  which  men  are  supposed  to  have  inherited  from 
their  common  mother  Eve,  in  connection  with  the  motive 
for  this  singular  proceeding  of  the  baronet. 

"  Sir  Gervaise  —  Rotherham — Mr.  Atwood,"  slowly  re 
peated  the  patient,  his  eye  passing  from  the  face  of  one  to 
that  of  another,  as  he  uttered  the  name  of  each ;  "  three 
witnesses — that  will  do — Thomas  said — must  have  three — 
three  good  names." 

"  What  can  we  do  to  serve  you,  Sir  Wycherly  ?"  inquired 
the  admiral,  with  real  interest.  "  You  have  only  to  name 
your  requests,  to  have  them  faithfully  attended  to." 

"  Old  Sir  Michael  Wychecombe,  Kt. — two  wives — Mar 
gery  and  Joan.  Two  wives — two  sons — half-blood — Tho 
mas,  James,  Charles,  and  Gregory,  whole — Sir  Reginald 
Wychecome,  half.  Understand — hope — gentlemen  ?" 

"  This  is  not  being  very  clear,  certainly,"  whispered  Sir 
Gervaise  ;  "  but,  perhaps  by  getting  hold  of  the  other  end 
of  the  rope,  we  may  under-run  it,  as  we  sailors  say,  and 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  145 

come  at  the  meaning  —  we  will  let  the  poor  man  prooeed 
therefore.  Quite  plain,  my  dear  sir,  and  what  have  you 
next  to  tell  us.  You  left  off,  with  saying  only  half  about 
Sir  Reginald." 

"  Half-blood  ;  only  half-— Tom  and  the  rest,  whole.  Sir 
Reginald,  no  nullius — young  Tom,  a  nullius" 

"  A  nullius,  Mr.  Rotherham !  You  understand  Latin, 
sir ;  what  can  a  nullius,  mean  ?  No  such  rope  in  the  ship, 
hey!  Atwood?" 

"  Nullius,  or  nullius,  as  it  ought  sometimes  to  be  pro 
nounced,  is  the  genitive  case,  singular,  of  the  pronoun  nul- 
lus ;  nullus,  nulla,  nullum  ;  which  means, * no  man,'  'no 
woman,'  «  no  thing.'  Nullius  means,  '  of  no  man,'  '  of  no 
woman,'  *  of  no  thing.'  ' 

The  vicar  gave  this  explanation,  much  in  the  way  a  peda 
gogue  would  have  explained  the  matter  to  a  class. 

"  Ay-ay — any  school-boy  could  have  told  that,  which  is 
the  first  form  learning.  But  what  the  devil  can  '  Nom. 
nullvs,  nulla,  nvllum;  Gen.  nullius,  nullius,  nullius  J  have 
to  do  with  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  the  nephew  and  heir 
of  the  present  baronet  ?" 

"  That  is  more  than  I  can  inform  you,  Sir  Gervaise," 
answered  the  vicar,  stiffly ;  "  but,  for  the  Latin,  I  will  take 
upon  myself  to  answer,  that  it  is  good." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  too  well-bred  to  laugh,  but  he  found  it 
difficult  to  suppress  a  smile. 

"  Well,  Sir  Wycherly,"  resumed  the  vice-admiral,  "  this 
is  quite  plain — Sir  Reginald  is  only  half,  while  your  nephew 
Tom,  and  the  rest,  are  whole — Margery  and  Joan,  and  all 
that.  Anything  more  to  tell  us,  my  dear  sir7?" 

"  Tom  not  whole — nullus,  I  wish  to  say.  Sir  Reginald 
half — no  nullus" 

"  This  is  like  being  at  sea  a  week,  without  getting  a  sight 
of  the  sun  !  I  am  all  adrift,  now,  gentlemen." 

"  Sir  Wycherly  does  not  attend  to  his  cases,"  put  in  At 
wood,  drily.  "  At  one  time,  he  is  in  the  genitive,  and  then 
he  gets  back  to  the  nominative  ;  which  is  leaving  us  in  the 
vocative" 

"  Come — come — Atwood,  none  of  your  gun-room  wit,  on 
an  occasion  so  solemn  as  this.  My  dear  Sir  Wycherly, 
have  you  anything  more  to  tell  us  ?  I  believe  we  perfectly 
13 


140  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

understand  you,  now.  Tom  is  not  whole — you  wish  to  say 
nullus,  and  not  to  say  nullius.  Sir  Reginald  is  only  half, 
but  he  is  no  nullus" 

"  Yes,  sir  —  that  is  it,"  returned  the  old  man,  smiling. 
"  Half,  but  no  nullus.  Change  my  mind — seen  too  much 
of  the  other,  lately — Tom,  my  nephew — want  to  make  him 
my  heir." 

"  This  is  getting  clearer,  out  of  all  question.  You  wish 
to  make  your  nephew,  Tom,  your  heir.  But  the  law  does 
that  already,  does  it  not,  my  dear  sir  ?  Mr.  Baron  Wyche- 
combe  was  the  next  brother  of  the  baronet ;  was  he  not,  Mr. 
Rotherham?" 

"  So  I  have  always  understood,  sir ;  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe  must  be  the  heir  at  law." 

"No — no — nullus — nullus"  repeated  Sir  Wycherly, 
with  so  much  eagerness  as  to  make  his  voice  nearly  indis 
tinct  ;  "  Sir  Reginald — Sir  Reginald — Sir  Reginald." 

"  And  pray,  Mr.  Rotherham,  who  may  this  Sir  Reginald 
be  1  Some  old  baronet  of  the  family,  I  presume." 

"  Not  at  all,  sir ;  it  is  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  of 
Wychecombe-Regis,  Herts ;  a  baronet  of  Queen  Anne's 
time,  and  a  descendant  from  a  cadet  of  this  family,  I  am 
told." 

"  This  is  getting  on  soundings — I  had  taken  it  into  my 
head  this  Sir  Reginald  was  some  old  fellow  of  the  reign  of 
one  of  the  Plantagenets.  Well,  Sir  Wycherly,  do  you  wish 
us  to  send  an  express  into  Hertfordshire,  in  quest  of  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe,  who  is  quite  likely  your  executor  ? 
Do  not  give  yourself  the  pain  to  speak ;  a  sign  will  answer." 

Sir  Wycherly  seemed  struck  with  the  suggestion,  which, 
the  reader  will  readily  understand,  was  far  from  being  his 
real  meaning ;  and  then  he  smiled,  and  nodded  his  head  in 
approbation. 

Sir  Gervaise,  with  the  promptitude  of  a  man  of  business, 
turned  to  the  table  where  the  vicar  had  written  notes  to  the 
medical  men,  and  dictated  a  short  letter  to  his  secretary. 
This  letter  he  signed,  and  in  five  minutes  Atwood  left  tho 
room,  to  order  it  to  be  immediately  forwarded  by  express. 
When  this  was  done,  the  admiral  rubbed  his  hands,  in  satis 
faction,  like  a  man  who  felt  he  had  got  himself  cleverly  out 
Of  a  knotty  difficulty. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  147 

«« I  don't  see,  after  all,  Mr.  Rotherham,"  he  observed  to 
the  vicar,  as  they  stood  together,  in  a  corner  of  the  room, 
waiting  the  return  of  the  secretary  ;  "  what  he  lugged  in 
that  school-boy  Latin  for — nullus>  nulla,  nullum  !  Can  you 
possibly  explain  t hat  ?" 

"  Not  unless  it  was  Sir  Wycherly's  desire  to  say,  that 
Sir  Reginald,  being  descended  from  a  younger  son,  was  no 
body —  as  yet,  had  no  woman — and  I  believe  he  is  not 
married — and  was  poor,  or  had  «  no  thing.' " 

"  And  is  Sir  Wycherly  such  a  desperate  scholar,  that  he 
would  express  himself  in  this  hieroglyphical  manner,  on 
what  I  fear  will  prove  to  be  his  death-bed." 

"  Why,  Sir  Gervaise,  Sir  Wycherly  was  educated  like 
all  other  young  gentlemen,  but  has  forgotten  most  of  his 
classics,  in  the  course  of  a  long  life  of  ease  and  affluence. 
Is  it  not  probable,  now,  that  his  recollection  has  returned  to 
him  suddenly,  in  consequence  of  this  affection  of  the  head  ? 
I  think  I  have  read  of  some  curious  instances  of  these  re 
viving  memories,  on  a  death-bed,  or  after  a  fit  of  sickness." 

"  Ay,  that  you  may  have  done !"  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise, 
smiling ;  "  and  poor,  good  Sir  Wycherly,  must  have  begun 
afresh,  at  the  very  place  where  he  left  off.  But  here  is 
Atwood,  again." 

After  a  short  consultation,  the  three  chosen  witnesses 
returned  to  the  bed-side,  the  admiral  being  spokesman. 

"  The  express  will  be  off  in  ten  minutes,  Sir  Wycherly," 
he  said ;  "  and  you  may  hope  to  see  your  relative,  in  the 
course  of  the  next  two  or  three  days." 

"  Too  late — too  late,"  murmured  the  patient,  who  had  an 
inward  consciousness  of  his  true  situation  ;  "  too  late — turn 
the  will  round — Sir  Reginald,  Tom ; — Tom — Sir  Reginald. 
Turn  the  will  round." 

"  Turn  the  will  round  ! — this  is  very  explicit,  gentlemen, 
to  those  who  can  understand  it.  Sir  Reginald,  Tom ; — Tom, 
Sir  Reginald.  At  all  events,  it  is  clear  that  his  mind  ia 
dwelling  on  the  disposition  of  his  property,  since  he  speaks 
of  wills.  Atwood,  make  a  note  of  these  words,  that  there 
need  be  no  mistake.  I  wonder  he  has  said  nothing  of  our 
brave  young  lieutenant,  his  namesake.  There  can  be  no 
harm,  Mr.  Rothcrham,  in  just  mentioning  that  fine  fellow 
to  him,  in  a  moment  liko  this  T" 


148  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  I  see  none,  sir.  It  is  our  duty  to  remind  the  sick  of 
their  duties." 

"  Do  you  not  wish  to  see  your  young  namesake, Lieutenant 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  Sir  Wycherly  ?"  asked  the  admi 
ral  ;  sufficiently  emphasizing  the  Christian  name.  "  He 
must  be  in  the  house,  and  I  dare  say  would  be  happy  to 
obey  your  wishes." 

"  I  hope  he  is  well,  sir — fine  young  gentleman — honour 
to  the  name,  sir." 

"  Quite  true,  Sir  Wycherly  ;  and  an  honour  to  the  nation, 
too." 

"  Didn't  know  Virginia  was  a  nation — so  much  the  better 
— fine  young  Virginian,  sir." 

"  Of  your  family,  no  doubt,  Sir  Wycherly,  as  well  as  of 
your  name,"  added  the  admiral,  who  secretly  suspected  the 
young  sailor  of  being  a  son  of  the  baronet,  notwithstanding 
all  he  had  heard  to  the  contrary.  "  An  exceedingly  fine 
young  man,  and  an  honour  to  any  house  in  England !" 

"  I  suppose  they  have  houses  in  Virginia — bad  climate  ; 
houses  necessary.  No  relative,  sir ; — probably  a  nullus. 
Many  Wychecombes,  nullusus.  Tom,  a  nullus — this  young 
gentleman,  a  nullus — Wychecombes  of  Surrey,  all  nulluses 
— Sir  Reginald,  no  nullus;  but  a  half — Thomas,  James, 
Charles,  and  Gregory,  all  whole.  My  brother,  Baron  Wyche 
combe,  told  me — before  he  died." 

"  Whole  what,  Sir  Wycherly  ?"  asked  the  admiral,  a  little 
vexed  at  the  obscurity  of  the  other's  language. 

"  Blood — whole  blood,  sir.  Capital  law,  Sir  Gervaise ; 
had  it  from  the  baron — first  hand." 

Now,  one  of  the  peculiarities  of  England  is,  that,  in  the 
division  of  labour,  few  know  anything  material  about  the 
law,  except  the  professional  men.  Even  their  knowledge  is 
divided  and  sub-divided,  in  a  way  that  makes  a  very  fair 
division  of  profit.  Thus  the  conveyancer  is  not  a  barrister; 
the  barrister  is  not  an  attorney  ;  and  the  chancery  practi 
tioner  would  be  an  unsafe  adviser  for  one  of  the  purely 
law  courts.  That  particular  provision  of  the  common  law, 
which  Baron  Wychecombe  had  mentioned  to  his  brother,  as 
the  rule  of  the  half-blood,  has  been  set  aside,  or  modified, 
by  statute,  within  the  last  ten  years ;  but  few  English  lay 
men  would  be  at  all  likely  to  know  of  such  a  law  of  descent, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  149 

even  when  it  existed ;  for  while  it  did  violence  to  every 
natural  sentiment  of  right,  it  lay  hidden  in  the  secrets  of  the 
profession.  Were  a  case  stated  to  a  thousand  intelligent 
Englishmen,  who  had  not  read  law,  in  which  it  was  laid 
down  that  brothers,  by  different  mothers,  though  equally 
sons  of  the  founder  of  the  estate,  could  not  take  from  each 
other,  unless  by  devise  or  entail,  the  probability  is  that  quite 
nine  in  ten  would  deny  the  existence  of  any  rule  so  ab 
surd  ;  and  this,  too,  under  the  influence  of  feelings  that  were 
creditable  to  their  sense  of  natural  justice.  Nevertheless, 
such  was  one  of  the  important  provisions  of  the  "  perfection 
of  reason,"  until  the  recent  reforms  in  English  law;  and  it 
has  struck  us  as  surprising,  that  an  ingenious  writer  of 
fiction,  who  has  recently  charmed  his  readers  with  a  tale, 
the  interest  of  which  turns  principally  on  the  vicissitudes  of 
practice,  did  not  bethink  him  of  this  peculiar  feature  of  his 
country's  laws  ;  inasmuch  as  it  would  have  supplied  mystery 
sufficient  for  a  dozen  ordinary  romances,  and  improbabili 
ties  enough  for  a  hundred.  That  Sir  Gervaise  and  his 
companions  should  be  ignorant  of  the  "  law  of  the  half- 
blood,"  is,  consequently,  very  much  a  matter  of  course  ;  and 
no  one  ought  to  be  surprised  that  the  worthy  baronet's  re 
peated  allusions  to  the  "  whole,"  and  the  "  half,"  were  abso 
lutely  enigmas,  which  neither  had  the  knowledge  necessary 
to  explain. 

"  What  can  the  poor  fellow  mean  7"  demanded  the  admi 
ral,  more  concerned  than  he  remembered  ever  before  to 
have  been,  on  any  similar  occasion.  "  One  could  wish  to 
serve  him  as  much  as  possible,  but  all  this  about  *  nullus? 
and  '  whole  blood,'  and  '  half,'  is  so  much  gibberish  to  me— 
can  you  make  anything  of  it, — hey  !  Atwood  ?" 

"  Upon  my  word,  Sir  Gervaise,  it  seems  a  matter  for  a 
judge,  rather  than  for  man-of-war's-men,  like  ourselves." 

"  It  certainly  can 'ave  no  connection  with  this  rising  of 
the  Jacobites?  That  is  an  affair  likely  to  trouble  a  loyal 
subject,  in  his  last  moments,  Mr.  Rotherham  !" 

"  Sir  Wycherly's  habits  and  age  forbid  the  idea  that  he 
knows  more  of  that,  sir,  than  is  known  to  us  all.  His  re 
quest,  however,  to  « turn  the  will  round,'  I  conceive  to  be 
altogether  explicit.  Several  capital  treatises  have  appeared 
lately  on  the  *  human  will,'  and  I  regret  to  say,  my  honoured 


150  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

friend  and  patron  has  not  always  been  quite  as  orthodox  on 
that  point,  as  I  could  wish.  I,  therefore,  consider  his  worda 
an  evidence  of  a  hearty  repentance." 

Sir  Gervaise  looked  about  him,  as  was  his  habit  when 
any  droll  idea  crossed  his  mind ;  but  again  suppressing  tho 
inclination  to  smile,  he  answered  with  suitable  gravity — 

"  I  understand  you,  sir ;  you  think  all  these  inexpli 
cable  terms  are  connected  with  Sir  Wycherly's  religious 
feelings.  You  may  certainly  be  right,  for  it  exceeds  my 
knowledge  to  connect  them  with  anything  else.  I  wish, 
notwithstanding,  he  had  not  disowned  this  noble  young  lieu 
tenant  of  ours  !  Is  it  quite  certain,  the  young  man  is  a 
Virginian  ?" 

"So  I  have  always  understood  it,  sir.  He  has  never 
been  known  in  this  part  of  England,  until  he  was  landed 
from  a  frigate  in  the  roads,  to  be  cured  of  a  serious  wound. 
I  think  none  of  Sir  Wycherly's  allusions  have  the  least 
reference  to  Aim." 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  now  joined  his  hands  behind  his  back, 
and  walked  several  times,  quarter-deck  fashion,  to  and  fro, 
in  the  room.  At  each  turn,  his  eyes  glanced  towards  the 
bed,  and  he  ever  found  the  gaze  of  the  sick  man  anxiously 
fastened  on  himself.  This  satisfied  him  that  religion  had 
nothing  to  do  with  his  host's  manifest  desire  to  make  him 
self  understood ;  and  his  own  trouble  was  greatly  increased. 
It  seemed  to  him,  as  if  a  dying  man  was  making  incessant 
appeals  to  his  aid,  without  its  being  in  his  power  to  afford 
it.  It  was  not  possible  for  a  generous  man,  like  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  to  submit  to  such  a  feeling  without  an  effort ;  and  ho 
soon  went  to  the  side  of  the  bed,  again,  determined  to  bring 
the  affair  to  some  intelligible  issue. 

"  Do  you  think,  Sir  Wycherly,  you  could  write  a  few 
lines,  if  we  put  pen,  ink,  and  paper  before  you  ?"  he  asked, 
as  a  sort  of  desperate  remedy.  * 

"  Impossible — can  hardly  see  ;  have  got  no  strength — 
stop — will  try — if  you  please." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  delighted  with  this,  and  he  immediately 
directed  his  companions  to  lend  their  assistance.  Atwood 
and  the  vicar  bolstered  the  old  man  up,  and  the  admiral  put 
the  writing  materials  before  him,  substituting  a  large  quarto 
bible  for  a  desk.  Sir  Wycherly,  after  several  abortive 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  151 

attempts,  finally  got  the  pen  in  his  hand,  and  with  great 
difficulty  traced  six  or  seven  nearly  illegible  words,  running 
the  line  diagonally  across  the  paper.  By  this  time  his 
powers  failed  him  altogether,  and  he  sunk  back,  dropping 
the  pen,  and  closing  his  eyes  in  a  partial  insensibility.  At 
this  critical  instant,  the  surgeon  entered,  and  at  once  put  an 
end  to  the  interview,  by  taking  charge  of  the  patient,  and 
directing  all  but  one  or  two  necessary  attendants,  to  quit  the 
room. 

The  three  chosen  witnesses  of  what  had  just  past,  repaired 
together  to  a  parlour;  Atwood,  by  a  sort  of  mechanical 
habit,  taking  with  him  the  paper  on  which  the  baronet  had 
scrawled  the  words  just  mentioned.  This,  by  a  sort  of  me 
chanical  use,  also,  he  put  into  the  hands  of  Sir  Gervaise,  a? 
soon  as  they  entered  the  room ;  much  as  he  would  have  laid 
before  his  superior,  an  order  to  sign,  or  a  copy  of  a  letter  to 
the  secretary  of  the  Navy  Board. 

"  This  is  as  bad  as  the  '  nullus  /'  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise, 
after  endeavouring  to  decipher  the  scrawl  in  vain.  "  What 
is  this  first  word,  Mr.  Rotherham — i  Irish,'  is  it  not, — hey  ! 
Atwood?" 

"  I  believe  it  is  no  more  than  '  I-n,'  stretched  over  much 
more  paper  than  is  necessary." 

"  You  are  right  enough,  vicar ;  and  the  next  word  is 
*  the,'  though  it  looks  like  a  chevaux  defrise — what  follows  ? 
It  looks  like  *  man-of-war,'  Atwood  ?" 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Sir  Gervaise ;  this  first  letter  is 
what  I  should  call  an  elongated  n — the  next  is  certainly  an 
a — the  third  looks  like  the  waves  of  a  river — ah !  it  is  an 
m — and  the  last  is  an  e — n-a-m-c — that  makes  '  name,'  gen 
tlemen." 

"  Yes,"  eagerly  added  the  vicar,  and  the  two  next  words 
are,  <  of  God.'" 

"  Then  it  is  religion,  after  all,  that  was  on  the  poor  man's 
mind !"  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  slight  degree  disap 
pointed,  if  the  truth  must  be  told.  "  What 's  this  A-m-e-n — 
'  Amen ' — why  it 's  a  sort  of  a  prayer." 

"  This  is  the  form,  in  which  it  is  usual  to  commence 
wills,  I  believe,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the  secretary,  who 
had  written  many  a  one,  on  board  ship,  in  his  day.  '  In  the 
name  of  God,  Amen.'  " 


152  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  By  George,  you  're  right,  Atwood ;  and  the  poor  man 
was  trying,  all  the  while,  to  let  us  know  how  he  wished  to 
dispose  of  his  property  !  What  could  he  mean  by  the  nulluz 
—  it  is  not  possible  that  the  old  gentleman  has  nothing  to 
leave?' 

"  I  '11  answer  for  it,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  is  not  the  true  ex 
planation,"  the  vicar  replied.  "  Sir  Wycherly's  affairs  are 
in  the  best  order ;  and,  besides  the  estate,  he  has  a  large 
sum  in  the  funds." 

"  Well,  gentlemen,  we  can  do  no  more  to-night.  A  medi 
cal  man  is  already  in  the  house,  and  Blue  water  will  send 
ashore,  one  or  two  others  from  the  fleet.  In  the  morning,  if 
Sir  Wycherly  is  in  a  state  to  converse,  this  matter  shall  b« 
attended  to." 

The  party  now  separated  ;  a  bed  being  provided  for  the 
vicar,  and  the  admiral  and  his  secretary  retiring  to  their 
respective  rooms. 


CHAFFER  X. 

**  Bid  physicians  talk  our  veins  to  temper, 
And  with  an  argument  new-set  a  pulse ; 
Then  think,  my  lord,  of  reasoning  into  love.n 

YOUNS* 

WHILE  the  scene  just  related,  took  place  in  the  chambe? 
of  the  sick  man,  Admiral  Bluewater,  Mrs.  Button,  and  Mil 
dred  left  the  house,  in  the  old  family-coach.  The  rear- 
admiral  had  pertinaciously  determined  to  adhere  to  his  prac 
tice  of  sleeping  in  his  ship  ;  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
had  offered  seats  to  his  two  fair  companions — for  Mrs.  Duttoa 
still  deserved  to  be  thus  termed  —  has  already  been  seen. 
The  motive  was  simply  to  remove  them  from  any  further 
brutal  exhibitions  of  Dutton's  cupidity,  while  he  continued 
in  his  present  humour  ;  and,  thus  influenced,  it  is  not,  pro- 
bab  e  that  the  gallant  old  sailor  would  be  likely  to  dwell, 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  153 

more  than  was  absolutely  necessary,  on  the  unpleasant 
scene  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness.  In  fact,  no  allusion 
was  made  to  it,  during  the  quarter  of  an  hour  the  party  was 
driving  from  the  Hall  to  the  station-house.  They  all  spoke, 
with  regret, — Mildred  with  affectionate  tenderness,  even, — 
of  poor  Sir  Wycherly  ;  and  several  anecdotes,  indicative  of 
his  goodness  of  heart,  were  eagerly  related  to  Bluewater,  by 
the  two  females,  as  the  carriage  moved  heavily  along.  In 
the  time  mentioned,  the  vehicle  drew  up  before  the  door  of 
the  cottage,  and  all  three  alighted. 

If  the  morning  of  that  day  had  been  veiled  in  mist,  the 
sun  had  set  in  as  cloudless  a  sky,  as  is  often  arched  above 
the  island  of  Great  Britain.  The  night  was,  what  in  that 
region,  is  termed  a  clear  moonlight.  It  was  certainly  not 
the  mimic  day  that  is  so  often  enjoyed  in  purer  atmospheres, 
but  the  panorama  of  the  head-land  was  clothed  in  a  soft, 
magical  sort  of  semi-distinctness,  that  rendered  objects  suf 
ficiently  obvious,  and  exceedingly  beautiful.  The  rounded, 
shorn  swells  of  the  land,  hove  upward  to  the  eye,  verdant 
and  smooth  ;  while  the  fine  oaks  of  the  park  formed  a 
shadowy  background  to  the  picture,  inland.  Seaward,  the 
ocean  was  glittering,  like  a  reversed  plane  of  the  firmament, 
far  as  eye  could  reach.  If  our  own  hemisphere,  or  rather  this 
latitude,  may  boast  of  purer  skies  than  are  enjoyed  by  the 
mother  country,  the  latter  has  a  vast  superiority  in  the  tint 
of  the  water.  While  the  whole  American  coast  is  bounded 
by  a  vast,  dull-looking  sheet  of  sea-green,  the  deep  blue  of 
the  wide  ocean  appears  to  be  carried  close  home  to  the  shores 
of  Europe.  This  glorious  tint,  from  which  the  term  of 
"  ultra  marine"  has  been  derived,  is  most  remarkable  in  the 
Mediterranean,  that  sea  of  delights ;  but  it  is  met  with,  all 
along  the  rock-bound  coasts  of  the  Peninsula  of  Spain  and 
Portugal,  extending  through  the  British  Channel,  until  it  is 
in  a  measure  lost  on  the  shoals  of  the  North  Sea  ;  to  be 
revived,  however,  in  the  profound  depths  of  the  ocean  that 
laves  the  wild  and  romantic  coast  of  Norway. 

"  'T  is  a  glorious  night !"  exclaimed  Bluewater,  as  he 
handed  Mildred,  the  last,  from  the  carriage  ;  "  and  one  can 
hardly  wish  to  enter  a  cot,  let  it  swing  ever  so  lazily." 

"Sleep  is  out  of  the  question,"  returned  Mildred,  sorrow 
fully.  "  These  are  nights  in  which  even  the  weary  are 


154  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

reluctant  to  lose  their  consciousness;  but  who  can  sleep 
while  there  is  this  uncertainty  about  dear  Sir  Wycherly." 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  you  say  this,  Mildred," — for  so  the 
admiral  had  unconsciously,  and  unrepelled,  begun  to  call  his 
eweet  companion — "  I  rejoice  to  hear  you  say  this,  for  I  am 
an  inveterate  star-gazer  and  moon-ite  ;  and  I  shall  hope  to 
persuade  you  and  Mrs.  Dutton  to  waste  yet  another  hour, 
with  me,  in  walking  on  this  height.  Ah  !  yonder  is  Sam 
Yoke,  my  coxswain,  waiting  to  report  the  barge ;  I  can 
send  Sir  Gervaise's  message  to  the  surgeons  by  deputy,  and 
there  will  be  no  occasion  for  my  hastening  from  this  lovely 
spot,  and  pleasant  company." 

The  orders  were  soon  given  to  the  coxswain.  A  dozen 
boats,  it  would  seem,  were  in  waiting  for  officers  ashore, 
notwithstanding  the  lateness  of  the  hour ;  and  directions 
were  sent  for  two  of  them  to  pull  off,  and  obtain  the  medical 
men.  The  coach  was  sent  round  to  receive  the  latter,  and 
then  all  was  tranquil,  again,  on  the  height.  Mrs.  Dutton 
entered  the  house,  to  attend  to  some  of  her  domestic  con 
cerns,  while  the  rear-admiral  took  the  arm  of  Mildred,  and 
they  walked,  together,  to  the  verge  of  the  cliffs. 

A  fairer  moonlight  picture  seldom  offered  itself  to  a  sea 
man's  eye,  than  that  which  now  lay  before  the  sight  of 
Admiral  Bluewater  and  Mildred.  Beneath  them  rode  the 
fleet ;  sixteen  sail  of  different  rigs,  eleven  of  which,  however, 
were  two-decked  ships  of  the  largest  size  then  known  in 
naval  warfare ;  and  all  of  which  were  in  that  perfect  order, 
that  an  active  and  intelligent  commander  knows  how  to  pro 
cure,  even  from  the  dilatory  and  indifferent.  If  Admiral 
Bluewater  was  conspicuous  in  manoeuvring  a  fleet,  and  in 
rendering  every  vessel  of  a  line  that  extended  a  league,  effi 
cient,  and  that  too,  in  her  right  place,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes 
had  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best  seamen,  in  the 
ordinary  sense  of  the  word,  in  England.  No  vessel  under 
his  command,  ever  had  a  lubberly  look  ;  and  no  ship  that 
had  any  sailing  in  her,  failed  to  have  it  brought  out  of  her. 
The  vice-admiral  was  familiar  with  that  all-important  fact — 
one  that  members  equally  of  Congress  and  of  Parliament 
are  so  apt  to  forget,  or  rather  not  to  know  at  all — that  the 
efficiency  of  a  whole  fleet,  as  a  fleet,  is  necessarily  brought 
down  to  the  level  of  its  worst  ships.  Of  little  avail  ia  it, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  155 

that  four  or  five  vessels  of  a  squadron  sail  fast,  and  work 
well,  if  the  eight  or  ten  that  remain,  behave  badly,  and  are 
dull.  A  separation  of  the  vessels  is  the  inevitable  consequence, 
when  the  properties  of  all  are  thoroughly  tried ;  and  the 
division  of  a  force,  is  the  first  step  towards  its  defeat ;  as  its 
proper  concentration,  is  a  leading  condition  of  victory.  As 
the  poorer  vessels  cannot  imitate  the  better,  the  good  are  com 
pelled  to  regulate  their  movements  by  the  bad ;  which  is  at 
once  essentially  bringing  down  the  best  ships  of  a  fleet  to 
the  level  of  its  worst ;  the  proposition  with  which  we  com 
menced. 

Sir  Gervaise  Cakes  was  so  great  a  favourite,  that  all  he 
asked  was  usually  conceded  to  him.  One  of  his  conditions 
was,  that  his  vessels  should  sail  equally  well :  "  If  you  give 
me  fast  ships,"  he  said,  "  I  can  overtake  the  enemy  ;  if  dull, 
the  enemy  can  overtake  me  ;  and  I  leave  you  to  say  which 
course  will  be  most  likely  to  bring  on  an  action.  At  any 
rate,  give  me  consorts;  not  one  flyer,  and  one  drag;  but 
vessels  that  can  keep  within  hail  of  each  other,  without 
anchoring."  The  admiralty  professed  every  desire  to  oblige 
the  gallant  commander ;  and,  as  he  was  resolved  never  to 
quit  the  Plantagenet  until  she  was  worn  out,  it  was  indis 
pensably  necessary  to  find  as  many  fast  vessels  as  possible, 
to  keep  her  company.  The  result  was  literally  a  fleet  of 
"  horses,"  as  Galleygo  used  to  call  it ;  and  it  was  generally 
said  in  the  service,  that  "  Oakes  had  a  squadron  of  flyers, 
if  not  a  flying-squadron." 

Vessels  like  these  just  mentioned,  are  usually  symmetrical 
and  graceful  to  the  eye,  as  well  as  fast.  This  fact  was  ap 
parent  to  Mildred,  accustomed  as  she  was  to  the  sight  of 
ships ;  and  she  ventured  to  express  as  much,  after  she  and 
her  companion  had  stood  quite  a  minute  on  the  cliff,  gazing 
at  the  grand  spectacle  beneath  them. 

"  Your  vessels  look  even  handsomer  than  common,  Ad 
miral  Bluewater,"  she  said,  "  though  a  ship,  to  me,  is  always 
an  attractive  sight." 

"  This  is  because  they  are  handsomer  than  common,  my 
pretty  critic.  Vice- Admiral  Oakcs  is  an  officer  who  will 
no  more  tolerate  an  ugly  ship  in  his  fleet,  than  a  peer  of  the 
realm  will  marry  any  woman  but  one  who  is  handsome  ; 
unless  indeed  she  happen  to  be  surpassingly  rich." 


156  THE     TWO     A  DM  I       ,» 

"  I  have  heard  that  men  are  accustomed  to  lose  their 
hearts  under  such  an  influence,"  said  Mildred,  laughing 
"  but  I  did  not  know  before,  that  they  were  ever  frank  enough 
to  avow  it !" 

"  The  knowledge  has  been  imparted  by  a  prudent  mother, 
I  suppose,"  returned  the  rear-admiral,  in  a  musing  manner  : 
"  I  wish  I  stood  sufficiently  in  the  parental  relation  to  you, 
my  young  friend,  to  venture  to  give  a  little  advice,  also. 
Never,  before,  did  I  feel  so  strong  a  wish  to  warn  a  human 
being  of  a  great  danger  that  I  fear  is  impending  over  her, 
could  I  presume  to  take  the  liberty." 

"  It  is  not  a  liberty,  but  a  duty,  to  warn  any  one  of  a 
danger  that  is  known  to  ourselves,  and  not  to  the  person 
who  incurs  the  risk.  At  least  so  it  appears  to  the  eyes  of 
a  very  young  girl." 

"  Yes,  if  the  danger  was  of  falling  from  these  cliffs,  or  of 
setting  fire  to  a  house,  or  of  any  other  visible  calamity. 
The  case  is  different,  when  young  ladies,  and  setting  fire  to 
the  heart,  are  concerned." 

"  Certainly,  I  can  perceive  the  distinction,"  answered 
Mildred,  after  a  short  pause ;  "  and  can  understand  that  the 
same  person  who  would  not  scruple  to  give  the  alarm  against 
any  physical  danger,  would  hesitate  even  at  hinting  at  one 
of  a  moral  character.  Nevertheless,  if  Admiral  Bluewater 
think  a  simple  girl,  like  me,  of  sufficient  importance  to  take 
the  trouble  to  interest  himself  in  her  welfare,  I  should  hope 
he  would  not  shrink  from  pointing  out  this  danger.  It  is  a 
terrible  word  to  sleep  on  ;  and  I  confess,  besides  a  little  un 
easiness,  to  a  good  deal  of  curiosity  to  know  more." 

"  This  is  said,  Mildred,  because  you  are  unaccustomed  to 
the  shocks  which  the  tongue  of  rude  man  may  give  your 
sensitive  feelings." 

"  Unaccustomed !"  said  Mildred,  trembling  so  that  the 
weakness  was  apparent  to  her  companion.  "  Unaccus 
tomed  !  Alas  !  Admiral  Bluewater,  can  this  be  so,  after 
what  you  have  seen  and  heard !" 

"  Pardon  me,  dear  child ;  nothing  was  farther  from  my 
thoughts,  than  to  wish  to  revive  those  unpleasant  recollec- 
tions.  If  I  thought  I  should  be  forgiven,  I  might  venture, 
yet,  to  reveal  my  secret ;  for  never  before — though  I  can- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  157 

not  tell  the  reason  of  so  sudden  and  so  extraordinary  an 
interest  in  one  who  is  almost  a  stranger — " 

«  No — no — not  a  stranger,  dear  sir.  After  all  that  has 
passed  to-day  ;  after  you  have  been  admitted,  though  it  were 
by  accident,  to  one  most  sacred  secret ; — after  all  that  was 
said  in  the  carriage,  and  the  terrible  scenes  my  beloved  mo 
ther  went  through  in  your  presence  so  many  years  since, 
you  can  never  be  a  stranger  to  ws,  whatever  may  be  your 
own  desire  to  fancy  yourself  one." 

"  Girl,  you  do  not  fascinate — you  do  not  charm  me,  but 
you  bind  me  to  you  in  a  way  I  did  not  think  it  in  the  power 
of  any  human  being  to  subjugate  my  feelings  !" 

This  was  said  with  so  much  energy,  that  Mildred  dropped 
the  arm  she  held,  and  actually  recoiled  a  step,  if  not  in 
alarm,  at  least  in  surprise.  But,  on  looking  up  into  the  face 
of  her  companion,  and  perceiving  large  tears  actually 
glistening  on  his  cheek,  and  seeing  the  hair  that  exposure  • 
and  mental  cares  had  whitened  more  than  time,  all  her  con 
fidence  returned,  and  she  resumed  the  place  she  had  aban 
doned,  of  her  own  accord,  and  as  naturally  as  a  daughter 
would  have  clung  to  the  side  of  a  father. 

"  I  am  sure,  sir,  my  gratitude  for  this  interest  ought  to  be 
quite  equal  to  the  honour  it  does  me,"  Mildred  said,  earnestly. 
"  And,  now,  Admiral  Bluewater,  do  not  hesitate  to  speak  to 
me  with  the  frankness  that  a  parent  might  use.  I  will  listen 
with  the  respect  and  deference  of  a  daughter." 

"  Then  do  listen  to  what  I  have  to  say,  and  make  no 
answer,  if  you  find  yourself  wounded  at  the  freedom  I  am 
taking.  It  would  seem  that  there  is  but  one  subject  on  which 
a  man,  old  fellow  or  young  fellow,  can  speak  to  a  lovely 
young  girl,  when  he  gets  her  alone,  under  the  light  of  a  fine 
moon  ; — and  that  is  love.  Nay,  start  not  again,  my  dear, 
for,  if  I  am  about  to  speak  on  so  awkward  a  subject,  it  is 
not  in  my  own  behalf.  I  hardly  know  whether  you  will 
think  it  in  behalf  of  any  one ;  as  what  I  have  to  say,  is  not 
an  appeal  to  your  affections,  but  a  warning  against  bestowing 
them." 

"  A  warning,  Admiral  Bluewater  !  Do  you  really  think 
that  can  be  necessary  ?" 

"  Nay,  my  child,  that  is  best  known  to  yourself.     Of  one 
thing  I  am  certain ;  the  young  man  I  have  in  my  eye,  affects 
14 


158  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

to  admire  you,  whether  he  does  or  not ;  and  when  young 
women  are  led  to  believe  they  are  loved,  it  is  a  strong  appeal 
to  all  their  generous  feelings  to  answer  the  passion,  if  not 
with  equal  warmth,  at  least  with  something  very  like  it." 

"  Affects  to  admire,  sir ! — And  why  should  any  one  be  at 
the  pains  of  affecting  feelings  towards  me,  that  they  do  not 
actually  entertain?  I  have  neither  rank,  nor  money,  to 
bribe  any  one  to  be  guilty  of  an  hypocrisy  so  mean,  and 
which,  in  my  case,  would  be  so  motiveless." 

"  Yes,  if  it  were  motiveless  to  win  the  most  beautiful 
creature  in  England  !  But,  no  matter.  We  will  not  stop 
to  analyze  motives,  when  facts  are  what  we  aim  at.  1 
should  think  there  must  be  some  passion  in  this  youth's 
suit,  and  that  will  only  make  it  so  much  the  more  dangerous 
to  its  object.  At  all  events,  I  feel  a  deep  conviction  that  ho 
is  altogether  unworthy  of  you.  This  is  a  bold  expression 
of  opinion  on  an  acquaintance  of  a  day ;  but  there  are  such 
reasons  for  it,  that  a  man  of  my  time  of  life,  if  unprejudiced, 
can  scarcely  be  deceived." 

"  All  this  is  very  singular,  sir,  and  I  had  almost  used 
your  own  word  of  4  alarming,' "  replied  Mildred,  slightly 
agitated  by  curiosity,  but  more  amused.  "  I  shall  be  as 
frank  as  yourself,  and  say  that  you  judge  the  gentleman 
harshly.  Mr.  Rotherham  may  not  have  all  the  qualities 
that  a  clergyman  ought  to  possess,  but  he  is  far  from  being 
a  bad  man.  Good  or  bad,  however,  it  is  not  probable  that 
he  will  carry  his  transient  partiality  any  farther  than  ho 
has  gone  already." 

"  Mr.  Rotherham ! — I  have  neither  thought  nor  spoken 
of  the  pious  vicar  at  all !" 

Mildred  was  now  sadly  confused.  Mr.  Rotherham  had 
made  his  proposals  for  her,  only  the  day  before,  and  he  had 
been  mildly,  but  firmly  refused.  The  recent  occurrence 
was  naturally  uppermost  in  her  mind ;  and  the  conjecture 
that  her  rejected  suitor,  under  the  influence  of  wine,  might 
have  communicated  the  state  of  his  wishes,  or  what  he  fan 
cied  to  be  the  state  of  his  wishes,  to  her  companion,  was  so 
very  easy,  that  she  had  fallen  into  the  error,  almost  without 
reflection. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  sir — I  really  imagined,"  the  confused  girl 
answered  ;  "  but,  it  was  a  natural  mistake  for  me  to  sup- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  150 

'pose  you  meant  Mr.  Rotherham,  as  he  is  the  only  person 
who  has  ever  spoken  to  my  mother  on  the  subject  of  any 
thing  like  a  preference  for  me." 

"  I  should  have  less  fear  of  those  who  spoke  to  your  mo 
ther,  Mildred,  than  of  those  who  spoke  only  to  you.  As  I 
hate  ambiguity,  however,  I  will  say,  at  once,  that  my  allu 
sion  was  to  Mr.  Wychecombe." 

"  Mr.  Wychecombe,  Admiral  Bluewater  !" — and  the  ve 
teran  felt  the  arm  that  leaned  on  him  tremble  violently,  a 
sad  confirmation  of  even  more  than  he  apprehended,  or  ho 
would  not  have  been  so  abrupt.  "  Surely — surely — tho 
warning  you  mean,  cannot,  ought  not  to  apply  to  a  gentle 
man  of  Mr.  Wychecombe's  standing  and  character  I" 

"  Such  is  the  world,  Miss  Dutton,  and  we  old  seamen,  in 
particular,  get  to  know  it,  whether  willingly  or  not.  My 
sudden  interest  in  you,  the  recollection  of  former,  but  painful 
scenes,  and  the  events  of  the  day,  have  made  me  watchful, 
and,  you  will  add,  bold — but  I  am  resolved  to  speak,  even 
at  the  risk  of  disobliging  you  for  ever — and,  in  speaking,  I 
must  say  that  I  never  met  with  a  young  man  who  has  made 
so  unfavourable  an  impression  on  me,  as  this  same  Mr. 
Wychecombe." 

Mildred,  unconsciously  to  herself,  withdrew  her  arm,  and 
she  felt  astonished  at  her  own  levity,  in  so  suddenly  becoming 
sufficiently  intimate  with  a  stranger  to  permit  him  thus  to 
disparage  a  confirmed  friend. 

"  I  am  sorry,  sir,  that  you  entertain  so  indifferent  an 
opinion  of  one  who  is,  I  believe,  a  general  favourite,  in  this 
part  of  the  country,"  she  answered,  with  a  coldness  that 
rendered  her  manner  marked. 

"  I  perceive  I  shall  share  the  fate  of  all  unwelcome  coun 
sellors,  but  can  only  blame  my  own  presumption.  Mildred, 
we  live  in  momentous  times,  and  God  knows  what  is  to 
happen  to  myself,  in  the  next  few  months ;  but,  so  strong  is 
the  inexplicable  interest  that  I  feel  in  your  welfare,  that  I 
shall  venture  still  to  offend.  I  like  not  this  Mr.  Wyche 
combe,  who  is  so  devout  an  admirer  of  yours  —  real  or 
affected — and,  as  to  the  liking  of  dependants  for  the  heir  of 
a  considerable  estate,  it  is  so  much  a  matter  of  course,  that 
[  count  it  nothing." 

u  The  heir  of  a  considerable  estate  1"  repeated  Mildred,  in 


160  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

a  voice  to  which  the  natural  sweetness  returned,  quietly  re 
suming  the  arm,  she  had  so  unceremoniously  dropped  — 
"  Surely,  dear  sir,  you  are  not  speaking  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe,  Sir  Wycherly's  nephew." 

"  Of  whom  else  should  I  speak  1 — Has  he  not  been  your 
shadow  the  whole  day?  —  so  marked  in  his  attentions,  as 
scarce  to  deem  it  necessary  to  conceal  his  suit  ?" 

"  Has  it  really  struck  you  thus,  sir? — I  confess  I  did  not 
so  consider  it.  We  are  so  much  at  home  at  the  Hall,  that 
we  rather  expect  all  of  that  family  to  be  kind  to  us.  But, 
whether  you  are  right  in  your  conjecture,  or  not,  Mr.  Tho 
mas  Wychecombe  can  never  be  aught  to  me — and  as  proof, 
Admiral  Bluewater,  that  I  take  your  warning,  as  it  is  meant, 
in  kindness  and  sincerity,  I  will  add,  that  he  is  not  a  very 
particular  favourite." 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  it !  Now  there  is  his  namesake,  our 
young  lieutenant,  as  gallant  and  as  noble  a  fellow  as  ever 
lived — would  to  Heaven  he  was  not  so  wrapt  up  in  his  pro 
fession,  as  to  be  insensible  to  any  beauties,  but  those  of  a 
ship.  Were  you  my  own  daughter,  Mildred,  I  could  give 
you  to  that  lad,  with  as  much  freedom  as  I  would  give  him 
my  estate,  were  he  my  son." 

Mildred  smiled — and  it  was  archly,  though  not  without  a 
shade  of  sorrow,  too — but  she  had  sufficient  self-command, 
to  keep  her  feelings  to  herself,  and  too  much  maiden  reserve 
not  to  shrink  from  betraying  her  weakness  to  one  who,  after 
all,  was  little  more  than  a  stranger. 

"  I  dare  say,  sir,"  she  answered,  with  an  equivocation 
which  was  perhaps  venial,  "  that  your  knowledge  of  the  world 
has  judged  both  these  gentlemen,  rightly.  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe,  notwithstanding  all  you  heard  from  my  poor 
father,  is  not  likely  to  think  seriously  of  me ;  and  I  will 
answer  for  my  own  feelings  as  regards  him.  I  am,  in  no 
manner,  a  proper  person  to  become  Lady  Wychecombe ; 
and,  I  trust,  I  should  have  the  prudence  to  decline  the  honour 
were  it  even  offered  to  me.  Believe  me,  sir,"  my  father 
would  have  held  a  different  language  to-night,  had  it  not 
been  for  Sir  Wycherly's  wine,  and  the  many  loyal  toasts 
that  were  drunk.  He  must  be  conscious,  in  his  reflecting 
moments,  that  a  child  of  his  is  unsuited  to  so  high  a  station. 
Our  prospects  in  life  were  once  better  than  they  are  now, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  161 

Admiral  Bluewater ;  but  they  have  never  been  such  as  to 
raise  these  high  expectations  in  us." 

"  An  officer's  daughter  may  always  claim  to  be  a  gentle 
woman,  my  dear  ;  and,  as  such,  you  might  become  the  wife 
of  a  duke,  did  he  love  you.  Since  I  find  my  warning  unne 
cessary,  however,  we  will  change  the  discourse.  Did  not 
something  extraordinary  occur  at  this  cliff,  this  morning,  and 
in  connection  with  this  very  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  1 
Sir  Gervaise  was  my  informant;  but  he  did  not  relate  the 
matter  very  clearly." 

Mildred  explained  the  mistake,  and  then  gave  a  vivid  de 
scription  of  the  danger  in  which  the  young  lieutenant  had 
been  placed,  as  well  as  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had  extri 
cated  himself.  She  particularly  dwelt  on  the  extraordinary 
presence  of  mind  and  resolution,  by  means  of  which  he  had 
saved  his  life,  when  the  stone  first  gave  way  beneath  his  foot. 

"  All  this  is  well,  and  what  I  should  have  expected  from 
so  active  and  energetic  a  youth,"  returned  the  rear-admiral, 
a  little  gravely  ;  "  but,  I  confess  I  would  rather  it  had  not 
happened.  Your  inconsiderate  and  reckless  young  men, 
who  risk  their  necks  idly,  in  places  of  this  sort,  seldom  have 
much  in  them,  after  all.  Had  there  been  a  motive,  it  would 
have  altered  the  case." 

"  Oh  !  but  there  was  a  motive,  sir ;  he  was  far  from  doing 
so  silly  a  thing  for  nothing !" 

"  And  what  was  the  motive,  pray  ? — I  can  see  no  suffi 
cient  reason  why  a  man  of  sense  should  trust  his  person  over 
a  cliff  as  menacing  as  this.  One  may  approach  it,  by  moon 
light  ;  but  in  the  day,  I  confess  to  you  I  should  not  fancy 
standing  as  near  it,  as  we  do  at  this  moment." 

Mildred  was  much  embarrassed  for  an  answer.  Her  own 
heart  told  her  Wycherly's  motive,  but  that  it  would  never 
do  to  avow  to  her  companion,  great  as  was  the  happiness 
she  felt  in  avowing  it  to  herself.  Gladly  would  she  have 
changed  the  discourse ;  but,  as  this  could  not  be  done,  she 
yielded  to  her  native  integrity  of  character,  and  told  the 
truth,  as  far  as  she  told  anything. 

"  The  flowers  that  grow  on  the  sunny  side  of  these  rocks, 

Admiral  Bluewater,  are  singularly  fragrant  and  beautiful," 

she  said ;  "  and  hearing  my  mother  and  myself  speaking 

of  them,  and  how  much  the  former  delighted  in  them,  though 

14* 


162  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

they  were  so  seldom  to  be  had,  he  just  ventured  over  tho 
cliff — not  here,  where  it  is  so  very  perpendicular,  but  yonder, 
where  one  may  cling  to  it,  very  well,  with  a  little  care — and 
t  was  in  venturing  a  little — -just  a  very  little  too  far,  he 
K)ld  me,  himself,  sir,  to-day,  after  dinner, — that  the  stone 
broke,  and  the  accident  occurred.  I  do  not  think  Mr.  Wy- 
cherly  Wychecombe  in  the  least  fool-hardy,  and  not  at  all 
disposed  to  seek  a  silly  admiration,  by  a  silly  exploit." 

"  He  has  a  most  lovely  and  a  most  eloquent  advocate," 
returned  the  admiral,  smiling,  though  the  expression  of  his 
countenance  was  melancholy,  even  to  sadness  ;  "  and  he  is 
acquitted.  I  think  few  men  of  his  years  would  hesitate 
about  risking  their  necks  for  flowers  so  fragrant  and  beau 
tiful,  and  so  much  coveted  by  your  mother,  Mildred." 

"  And  he  a  sailor,  sir,  who  thinks  so  little  of  standing  on 
giddy  places,  and  laughs  at  fears  of  this  nature  ?" 

"  Quite  true  ;  though  there  are  few  cliffs  on  board  ship. 
Ropes  are  our  sources  of  courage." 

"  So  I  should  think,  by  what  passed  to-day,"  returned 
Mildred,  laughing.  "  Mr.  Wycherly  called  out  for  a  rope 
and  we  just  threw  him  one,  to  help  him  out  of  his  difficulty. 
The  moment  he  got  his  rope,  though  it  was  only  yonder 
email  signal-halyards,  he  felt  himself  as  secure  as  if  he 
stood  up  here,  on  the  height,  with  acres  of  level  ground  around 
him.  I  do  not  think  he  was  frightened,  at  any  time ;  but 
when  he  got  hold  of  that  little  rope,  he  was  fairly  valiant !" 

Mildred  endeavoured  to  laugh  at  her  own  history,  by 
way  of  veiling  her  interest  in  the  event ;  but  her  companion 
was  too  old,  and  too  discerning,  to  be  easily  deceived.  He 
continued  silent,  as  he  led  her  away  from  the  cliff;  and 
when  he  entered  the  cottage,  Mildred  saw,  by  the  nearer 
ight  of  the  candles,  that  his  countenance  was  still  sad. 

Admiral  Bluewater  remained  half  an  hour  longer  in  the 
cottage,  when  he  tore  himself  away,  from  a  society  which,  for 
him,  possessed  a  charm  that  he  could  not  account  for,  nor 
yet  scarcely  estimate.  It  was  past  one,  when  he  bid  Mrs. 
Dutton  and"  her  daughter  adieu ;  promising,  however,  to  see 
them  again,  before  the  fleet  sailed.  Late  as  it  was,  the 
mother  and  Mildred  felt  no  disposition  to  retire,  after 
the  exciting  scenes  they  had  gone  through ;  but,  feeling  a 
calm  on  their  spirits,  succeeding  the  rude  interruption  produced 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  163 

by  Button's  brutality,  they  walked  out  on  the  cliff,  to  enjoy 
the  cool  air,  and  the  bland  scenery  of  the  head-land,  at  that 
witching  hour. 

"  I  should  feel  alarm  at  this  particularity  of  attention,  from 
most  men,  my  child,"  observed  the  prudent  mother,  as  they 
left  the  house ;  "  but  the  years,  and  especially  the  character 
of  Admiral  Bluewater,  are  pledges  that  he  meditates  nothing 
foolish,  nor  wrong." 

"  His  years  would  be  sufficient,  mother,"  cried  Mildred, 
laughing — for  her  laugh  came  easily,  since  the  opinion  sho 
had  just  before  heard  of  Wycherly's  merit — "  leaving  the 
character  out  of  the  question/' 

"  For  you,  perhaps,  Mildred,  but  not  for  himself.  Men 
rarely  seem  to  think  themselves  too  old  to  win  the  young  of 
our  sex  ;  and  what  they  want  in  attraction,  they  generally 
endeavour  to  supply  by  flattery  and  artifice.  But,  I  acquit 
our  new  friend  of  all  that." 

"  Had  he  been  my  own  father,  dearest  mother,  his  lan 
guage,  and  the  interest  he  took  in  me,  could  not  have  been 
more  paternal.  I  have  found  it  truly  delightful  to  listen  to 
such  counsel,  from  one  of  his  sex  ;  for,  in  general,  they  do 
not  treat  me  in  so  sincere  and  fatherly  a  manner." 

Mrs.  Button's  lip  quivered,  her  eye-lids  trembled  too,  and 
a  couple  of  tears  fell  on  her  cheeks. 

"  It  is  new  to  you,  Mildred,  to  listen  to  the  language  of 
disinterested  affection  and  wisdom  from  one  of  his  years  and 
sex.  I  do  not  censure  your  listening  with  pleasure,  but 
merely  tell  you  to  remember  the  proper  reserve  of  your 
years  and  character.  Hist  1  there  are  the  sounds  of  his 
barge's  oars." 

Mildred  listened,  and  the  measured  but  sudden  jerk  of 
oars  in  the  rullocks,  ascended  on  the  still  night-air,  as  dis 
tinctly  as  they  might  have  been  heard  in  the  boat.  At  the 
next  instant,  an  eight-oared  barge  moved  swiftly  out  from 
under  the  cliff,  and  glided  steadily  on  towards  a  ship,  that 
had  one  lantern  suspended  from  the  end  of  her  gaff,  an 
other  in  her  mizzen-top,  and  the  small  night-flag  of  a  rear- 
admiral,  fluttering  at  her  mizzen-royal-mast-head.  The 
cutter  lay  nearest  to  the  landing,  and,  as  the  barge  ap 
proached  her,  the  ladies  heard  the  loud  hail  of  "  boat-ahoy  !" 
The  answer  was  also  audible ;  though  given  in  the  mild, 


164  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

gentleman-like  voice  of  Bluewater,  himself.  It  was  simply 
"  rear-admiral's  flag."  A  death-like  stillness  succeeded  thia 
annunciation  of  the  rank  of  the  officer  in  the  passing  boat, 
interrupted  only  by  the  measured  jerk  of  the  oars.  Once 
or  twice,  indeed,  the  keen  hearing  of  Mildred  made  her  fancy 
she  heard  the  common  dip  of  the  eight  oars,  and  the  wash 
of  the  water,  as  they  rose  from  the  element,  to  gain  a  re 
newed  purchase.  As  each  vessel  was  approacLed,  however, 
the  hail  and  the  answer  were  renewed,  the  quiet  of  midnight, 
in  every  instance,  succeeding.  At  length  the  barge  was 
seen  shooting  along  on  the  quarter  of  the  Csesar,  the 
rear-admiral's  own  ship,  and  the  last  hail  was  given.  This 
time,  there  was  a  slight  stir  in  the  vessel ;  and,  soon  after 
the  sound  of  the  oars  ceased,  the  lanterns  descended  from  the 
stations  they  had  held,  since  nightfall.  Two  or  three  other 
lanterns  were  still  displayed  at  the  gaffs  of  other  vessels, 
the  signs  that  their  captains  were  not  on  board ;  though 
whether  they  were  ashore,  or  visiting  in  the  fleet,  were  facts 
best  known  to  themselves.  The  Plantagenet,  however,  had 
no  light ;  it  being  known  that  Sir  Gervaise  did  not  intend 
to  come  off  that  night. 

When  all  this  was  over,  Mrs.  Button  and  Mildred  sought 
their  pillows,  after  an  exciting  day,  and,  to  them,  one  iai 
more  momentous  than  they  were  then  aware  of. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"  When  I  consider  life,  't  is  all  a  cheat ; 
Yet  fbol'd  with  hope,  men  favour  the  deceit; 
Trust  on,  and  think  to-morrow  will  repay; 
To-morrow's  falser  than  the  former  day." 

DRYDEN. 

ALTHOUGH  Admiral  Bluewater  devoted  the  minimum  of 
time  to  sleep,  he  was  not  what  the  French  term  matinaL 
There  is  a  period  in  the  morning,  on  board  of  a  ship  of  war, — 
that  of  washing  decks, — which  can  best  be  compared  to  the 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  165 

discomfort  of  the  American  purification,  yclep'd  "  a  house- 
cleaning."  This  occurs  daily,  about  the  rising  of  the  sun ; 
and  no  officer,  whose  rank  raises  him  above  mingling  with 
the  duty,  ever  thinks,  except  on  extraordinary  occasions 
that  may  require  his  presence  for  other  purposes,  of  intruding 
on  its  sacred  mysteries.  It  is  a  rabid  hour  in  a  ship,  and 
the  wisest  course,  for  all  idlers,  and  all  watch-officers,  who 
are  not  on  duty,  is  to  keep  themselves  under  hatches,  if 
their  convenience  will  possibly  allow  it.  He  who  wears  a 
flag,  however,  is  usually  reposing  in  his  cot,  at  this  critical 
moment;  or,  if  risen  at  all,  he  is  going  through  similar 
daily  ablutions  of  his  own  person. 

Admiral  Bluewater  was  in  the  act  of  opening  his  eyes, 
when  the  splash  of  the  first  bucket  of  water  was  heard  on 
the  deck  of  the  Csesar,  and  he  lay  in  the  species  of  en 
joyment  which  is  so  peculiar  to  naval  men,  after  they  have 
risen  to  the  station  of  commander ;  a  sort  of  semi-trance,  in 
which  the  mind  summons  all  the  ancient  images,  connected 
with  squalls ;  reefing  top-sails  in  the  rain ;  standing  on  the 
quarter  of  a  yard,  shouting  "  haul  out  to  leeward  ;"  peering 
over  the  weather  hammock-cloths  to  eye  the  weather,  with 
the  sleet  pricking  the  face  like  needles  ; — and,  washing 
decks !  These  dreamy  images  of  the  past,  however,  are 
summoned  merely  to  increase  the  sense  of  present  enjoy 
ment.  They  are  so  many  well-contrived  foils,  to  give 
greater  brilliancy  to  the  diamonds  of  a  comfortable  cot,  and 
the  entire  consciousness  of  being  no  longer  exposed  to  an 
untimely  summons  on  deck. 

Our  rear-admiral,  nevertheless,  was  not  a  vulgar  dreamer, 
on  such  occasions.  He  thought  little  of  personal  comforts 
at  any  time,  unless  indeed  when  personal  discomforts  ob 
truded  themselves  on  his  attention  ;  he  knew  little,  or  nothing 
of  the  science  of  the  table,  whereas  his  friend  was  a  knowing 
cook,  and  in  his  days  of  probation  had  been  a  distinguished 
caterer ;  but  he  was  addicted  to  a  sort  of  dreaming  of  his 
own,  even  when  the  sun  stood  in  the  zenith,  and  he  was 
walking  the  poop,  in  the  midst  of  a  circle  of  his  officers. 
Still,  he  could  not  refrain  from  glancing  back  at  the  past, 
that  morning,  as  plash  after  plash  was  heard,  and  recalling 
the  time  when  magna  pars  quorum  FUIT.  At  this  delecta 
ble  instant,  the  ruddy  face  of  a  "  young  gentleman"  ap. 


166  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

peared  in  his  state-room  door,  and,  first  ascertaining  that 
the  eyes  of  his  superior  were  actually  open,  the  youngster 
said — 

"  A  note  from  Sir  Gervaise,  Admiral  Bluewater." 

"  Very  well,  sir," — taking  the  note. — "  How 's  the  wind, 
Lord  Geoffrey?" 

"  An  Irishman's  hurricane,  sir ;  right  up  and  down.  Our 
first  says,  sir,  he  never  knew  finer  channel  weather." 

"  Our  first  is  a  great  astrologer.  Is  the  fleet  riding  flood 
yet?" 

"No  sir;  it's  slack-water;  or,  rather,  tho  ebb  is  just 
beginning  to  make." 

"  Go  on  deck,  my  lord,  and  see  if  the  Dover  has  hove  in 
any  upon  her  larboard  bower,  so  as  to  bring  her  more  on 
our  quarter." 

"  Ay-ay-sir,"  and  this  cadet  of  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
houses  of  England,  skipped  up  the  ladder  to  ascertain  his 
fact. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Bluewater  stretched  out  an  arm,  drew 
a  curtain  from  before  his  *  little  window,  fumbled  for  somo 
time  among  his  clothes  before  he  got  his  spectacles,  and  then 
opened  the  note.  This  early  epistle  was  couched  in  the 
following  words — 

"  Dear  Blue : — 

"  I  write  this  in  a  bed  big  enough  to  ware  a  ninety  in. 
I  Ve  been  athwart  ships  half  the  night,  without  knowing  it. 
Galley  go  has  just  been  in  to  report  '  our  fleet'  all  well,  and 
the  ships  riding  flood.  It  seems  there  is  a  good  look-out 
from  the  top  of  the  house,  where  part  of  the  roads  are  visible. 
Magrath,  and  the  rest  of  them,  have  been  at  poor  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  all  night,  I  learn,  but  he  remains  down  by  the  head, 
yet.  I  am  afraid  the  good  old  man  will  never  be  in  trim 
again.  I  shall  remain  here,  until  something  is  decided  ;  and 
as  we  cannot  expect  our  orders  until  next  day  after  to-mor 
row,  at  the  soonest,  one  might  as  well  be  here,  as  on  board. 
Come  ashore  and  breakfast  with  us ;  when  we  can  consult 
about  the  propriety  of  remaining,  or  of  abandoning  the 
wreck.  Adieu, 

"OAKES. 

•"  Roar-Admiral  Btuowater. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  167 

"  P.  S. — There  was  a  little  occurrence  last  night,  con 
nected  with  Sir  Wycherly's  will,  that  makes  me  particu 
larly  anxious  to  see  you,  as  early  as  possible,  this  morning. 

"  O." 

Sir  Gervaise,  like  a  woman,  had  written  his  mind  in  his 
postscript.  The  scene  of  the  previous  night  had  forcibly 
presented  itself  to  his  recollection  on  awakening,  and  calling 
for  his  writing-desk,  he  had  sent  off  this  note,  at  the  dawn  of 
day,  with  the  wish  of  having  as  many  important  witnesses 
as  he  could  well  obtain,  at  the  interview  he  intended  to 
demand,  at  the  earliest  practicable  hour. 

"  What  the  deuce  can  Oakes  have  to  do  with  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  Wychecombe's  will?"  thought  the  rear-admiral. 
"  By  the  way,  that  puts  me  in  mind  of  my  own  ;  and  of  my 
own  recent  determination.  What  are  my  poor  £30,000  to 
a  man  with  the  fortune  of  Lord  Bluewater.  Having  neither 
a  wife  nor  child,  brother  nor  sister  of  my  own,  I  '11  do  what 
I  please  with  my  money.  Oakes  wont  have  it ;  besides, 
he 's  got  enough  df  his  own,  and  to  spare.  An  estate  of 
£7000  a  year,  besides  heaps  of  prize-money  funded.  I  daro 
say,  he  has  a  good  £12,000  a  year,  and  nothing  but  a 
nephew  to  inherit  it  all.  I  'm  determined  to  do  as  I  please 
with  my  money.  I  made  every  shilling  of  it,  and  I  '11  give 
it  to  whom  I  please." 

The  whole  time,  Admiral  Bluewater  lay  with  his  eyes  shut, 
and  with  a  tongue  as  motionless  as  if  it  couldn't  stir.  With 
all  his  laissez  alter  manner,  however,  he  had  the  prompti 
tude  of  a  sailor,  when  his  mind  was  made  up  to  do  a  thing, 
though  he  always  performed  it  in  his  own  peculiar  mode. 
To  rise,  dress,  and  prepare  to  quit  his  state-room,  occupied 
him  but  a  short  time ;  and  he  was  seated  before  his  own 
writing-desk,  in  the  after-cabin,  within  twenty  minutes  after 
the  thoughts  just  recorded,  had  passed  through  his  mind. 
His  first  act  was  to  take  a  folded  paper  from  a  private 
drawer,  and  glance  his  eye  carelessly  over  it.  This  was 
the  will  in  favour  of  Lord  Bluewater.  It  was  expressed  in 
very  concise  terms,  filling  only  the  first  side  of  a  page. 
This  will  he  copied,  verbatim  et  literatim,  leaving  blanks 
for  the  name  of  the  legatee,  and  appointing  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  his  executor,  as  in  the  will  already  executed.  When 


168  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

finished  in  this  manner,  he  set  about  filling  up  the  blanks. 
For  a  passing  instant,  he  felt  tempted  to  insert  the  name  of 
the  Pretender  ;  but,  smiling  at  his  own  folly,  he  wrote  that 
of"  Mildred  Dutton,  daughter  of  Francis  Button,  a  master  in 
His  Majesty's  Navy,"  in  all  the  places  that  it  was  requisite 
so  to  do.  Then  he  affixed  the  seal,  and,  folding  all  the 
upper  part  of  the  sheet  over,  so  as  to  conceal  the  contents, 
he  rang  a  little  silver  bell,  which  always  stood  at  his  elbow. 
The  outer  cabin-door  was  opened  by  the  sentry,  who  thrust 
his  head  in  at  the  opening. 

"  I  want  one  of  the  young  gentlemen,  sentry,"  said  the 
rear-admiral. 

The  door  closed,  and,  in  another  minute,  the  smiling  face 
of  Lord  Geoffrey  was  at  the  entrance  of  the  after-cabin. 

"  Who 's  on  deck,  my  lord,"  demanded  Bluewater,  "  be 
side  the  watch  ?" 

"  No  one,  sir.  All  the  idlers  keep  as  close  as  foxes,  when 
the  decks  are  getting  it ;  and  as  for  any  of  our  snorers 
showing  their  faces  before  six  bells,  it 's  quite  out  of  the 
question,  sir."  « 

"  Some  one  must  surely  be  stirring  in  the  gun-room,  by 
this  time !  Go  and  ask  the  chaplain  and  the  captain  of 
marines  to  do  me  the  favour  to  step  into  the  cabin — or  the 
first  lieutenant ;  or  the  master  ;  or  any  of  the  idlers." 

The  midshipman  was  gone  two  or  three  minutes,  when 
he  returned  with  the  purser  and  the  chaplain. 

"  The  first  lieutenant  is  in  the  forehold,  sir ;  all  the  ma 
rines  have  got  their  dead-lights  still  in,  and  the  master  is 
working-up  his  log,  the  gun-room  steward  says.  I  hope 
these  will  do,  sir ;  they  are  the  greatest  idlers  in  the  ship,  I 
believe." 

Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland  was  the  second  son  of  the  third 
duke  in  the  English  empire,  and  he  knew  it,  as  well  as  any 
one  on  board.  Admiral  Bluewater  had  no  slavish  respect  for 
rank  ;  nevertheless,  like  all  men  educated  under  an  aristo 
cratic  system,  he  was  influenced  by  the  feeling  to  a  degree 
of  which  he  himself  was  far  from  being  conscious.  This 
young  scion  of  nobility  was  not  in  the  least  favoured  in 
matters  of  duty,  for  this  his  own  high  spirit  would  have  re 
sented  ;  but  he  dined  in  the  cabin  twice  as  often  as  any 
other  midshipman  on  board,  and  had  obtained  for  himself  a 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  161) 

sort  of  license  for  the  tongue,  that  emboldened  him  to  utter 
what  passed  for  smart  things  in  the  cockpit  and  gun-room, 
and  which,  out  of  all  doubt,  were  pert  things  everywhere. 
Neither  the  chaplain  nor  the  purser  took  offence  at  his  liber 
ties  on  the  present  occasion ;  and,  as  for  the  rear-admiral, 
he  had  not  attended  to  what  had  been  uttered.  As  soon, 
however,  as  he  found  others  in  his  cabin,  he  motioned  to 
them  to  approach  his  desk,  and  pointed  to  the  paper,  folded 
down,  as  mentioned. 

"  Every  prudent  man,"  he  said,  "  and,  especially  every 
prudent  sailor  and  soldier,  in  a  time  of  war,  ought  to  be 
provided  with  a  will.  This  is  mine,  just  drawn  up,  by  my 
self;  and  that  instrument  is  an  old  one,  which  I  now  destroy 
in  your  presence.  I  acknowledge  this  to  be  my  hand  and 
seal,"  writing  his  name,  and  touching  the  seal  with  a  finger 
as  he  spoke ;  "  affixed  to  this  my  last  will  and  testament. 
Will  you  have  the  kindness  to  act  as  witnesses  ?" 

When  the  chaplain  and  purser  had  affixed  their  names, 
there  still  remained  a  space  for  a  third  signature.  This,  by 
a  sign  from  his  superior,  the  laughing  midshipman  filled 
with  his  own  signature. 

"  I  hope  you  've  recollected,  sir,"  cried  the  boy,  with  glee, 
as  he  took  his  seat  to  obey ;  "  that  the  Bluewaters  and 
Clevelands  are  related.  I  shall  be  grievously  disappointed, 
when  this  will  is  proved,  if  my  name  be  not  found  some 
where  in  it !" 

"  So  shall  I,  too,  my  lord,"  drily  returned  Bluewater ; 
u  for,  I  fully  expect  it  will  appear  as  a  witness  ;  a  character 
that  is  at  once  fatal  to  all  claims  as  a  legatee." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  suppose  flag-officers  can  do  pretty  much  as 
they  please  with  their  money,  since  they  do  pl'etty  much  as 
they  please  with  the  ships,  and  all  in  them.  I  must  lean 
so  much  the  harder  on  my  two  old  aunts,  as  I  appear  to 
have  laid  myself  directly  athwart-hawse  of  fortune,  in  this 
affair !" 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  rear-admiral,  with  easy  courtesy ; 
"  I  regret  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  have  your  company  at 
dinner,  to-day,  as  I  am  summoned  ashore  by  Sir  Gervaise, 
and  it  is  uncertain  when  I  can  get  off,  again ;  but  to-morrow 
I  shall  hope  to  enjoy  that  pleasure." 
15" 


170  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

The  officers  bowed,  expressed  their  acknowledgments  ao 
cepted  the  invitation,  bowed  once  or  twice  more  each,  and 
left  the  cabin,  with  the  exception  of  the  midshipman. 

"  Well,  sir,"  exclaimed  Blue  water,  a  little  surprised  at 
finding  he  was  not  alone,  after  a  minute  of  profound  reverie ; 
"  to  what  request  am  I  indebted  still  to  the  pleasure  of  your 
presence  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  it 's  just  forty  miles  to  my  father's  house  in 
Cornwall,  and  I  know  the  whole  family  is  there ;  so  I  just 
fancied,  that  by  bending  on  two  extra  horses,  a  chaise  might 
make  the  Park  gates  in  about  five  hours  ;  and  by  getting 
under  way  on  the  return  passage,  to-morrow  about  this 
time,  the  old  Caesar  would  never  miss  a  crazy  reefer,  more 
or  less." 

"  Very  ingeniously  put,  young  gentleman,  and  quite  plau 
sible.  When  I  was  of  your  age,  I  was  four  years  without 
once  seeing  either  father  or  mother." 

"  Yes  sir,  but  that  was  such  a  long  time  ago !  Boys 
can't  stand  it,  half  as  well  now,  as  they  did  then,  as  all  old 
people  say." 

The  rear-admiral's  lips  moved  slightly,  as  if  a  smile 
struggled  about  his  mouth,  and  then  his  face  suddenly  lost 
the  expression,  in  one  approaching  to  sadness. 

"  You  know,  Geoffrey,  I  am  not  commander-in-chief.  Sir 
Gervaise  alone  can  give  a  furlough." 

"  Very  true,  sir ;  but  whatever  you  ask  of  Sir  Gervaise, 
he  always  does ;  more  especially  as  concerns  us  of  your 
flag-ship." 

"  Perhaps  that  is  true.  But,  my  boy,  we  live  in  serious 
times,  and  we  may  sail  in  an  hour's  notice.  Are  you  igno 
rant  that  Prince  Charles  Edward  has  landed  in  Scotland, 
and  that  the  Jacobites  are  up  and  doing  7  If  the  French  back 
him,  we  may  have  our  hands  full  here,  in  the  channel." 

"  Then  my  dear  mother  must  go  without  a  kiss,  for  the 
next  twelvemonth  !"  cried  the  gallant  boy,  dashing  a  hand 
furtively  across  his  eyes,  in  spite  of  his  resolution.  "  The 
throne  of  old  England  must  be  uphold,  even  though  not  a  mo- 
ther  nor  a  sister  in  the  island,  see  a  midshipman  in  years  !" 

"  Nobly  said,  Lord  Geoffrey,  and  it  shall  be  known  at 
head-quarters.  Your  family  is  whig ;  and  you  do  well,  at 
your  time  of  life,  to  stick  to  the  family  politics." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  171 

"  A  small  run  on  the  shore,  sir,  would  be  a  great  pleasure, 
after  six  months  at  sea  ?" 

"  You  must  ask  Captain  Stowel's  leave  for  that.  You 
know  I  never  interfere  with  the  duty  of  the  ship." 

"  Yes,  sir,  but  there  are  so  many  of  us,  and  all  have  a 
hankering  after  terra  firma.  Might  I  just  say,  that  I  have 
your  permission,  to  ask  Captain  Stowel,  to  let  me  have  a 
run  on  the  cliffs  ?" 

"  You  may  do  that,  my  lord,  if  you  wish  it ;  but  Stowel 
knows  that  he  can  do  as  he  pleases." 

"  He  would  be  a  queer  captain  of  a  man-of-war,  if  he 
didn't,  sir !  Thank  you,  Admiral  Bluewater  ;  I  will  write 
to  my  mother,  and  I  know  she  '11  be  satisfied  with  the  reason 
I  shall  give  her,  for  not  coming  to  see  her.  Good-morning, 
sir." 

"  Good-morning," — then,  when  the  boy's  hand  was  on 
the  lock  of  the  cabin-door — u  my  lord  ?" 

"  Did  you  wish  to  say  anything  more,  sir  ?" 

"  When  you  write,  remember  me  kindly  to  the  Duchess. 
We  were  intimate,  when  young  people  ;  and,  I  might  say, 
loved  each  other." 

The  midshipman  promised  to  do  as  desired  ;  and  then 
the  rear-admiral  was  left  alone.  He  walked  the  cabin,  for 
half  an  hour,  musing  on  what  he  had  done  in  relation  to 
his  property,  and  on  what  he  ought  to  do,  in  relation  to  the 
Pretender ;  when  he  suddenly  summoned  his  coxswain,  gave 
a  few  directions,  -ind  sent  an  order  on  deck  to  have  his 
barge  manned.  The  customary  reports  went  their  usual 
rounds,  and  reached  the  cabin  in  about  three  minutes  more ; 
Lord  Geoffrey  bringing  them  down,  again. 

"  The  barge  is  manned,  sir,"  said  the  lad,  standing  near 
the  cabin-door,  rigged  out  in  the  neat,  go-ashore-clothes  of 
a  midshipman. 

"  Have  you  seen  Captain  Stowel,  my  lord  ?"  demanded 
the  rear-admiral. 

"  I  have,  sir ;  and  he  has  given  me  permission  to  drift 
along  shore,  until  sunset ;  to  be  off  with  the  evening  gun  of 
the  vice-admiral." 

"  Then  do  me  the  favour  to  take  a  seat  in  my  barge,  if 
you  are  quite  ready." 

This  offer  was  accepted,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  all  tho 


172  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ceremonies  of  the  deck  had  been  observed,  and  the  rear- 
admiral  was  seated  in  his  barge.  It  was  now  so  late,  that 
etiquette  had  fair  play,  and  no  point  was  omitted  on  the  oc 
casion.  The  captain  was  on  deck,  in  person,  as  well  as 
gun-room  officers  enough  to  represent  their  body;  the  guard 
was  paraded,  under  its  officers  ;  the  drums  rolled  ;  the  boat 
swain  piped  six  side  boys  over,  and  Lord  Geoffrey  skipped 
down  first  into  the  boat,  remaining  respectfully  standing, 
until  his  superior  was  seated.  All  these  punctilios  observed, 
the  boat  was  shoved  off  from  the  vessel's  side,  the  eight  oars 
dropped,  as  one,  and  the  party  moved  towards  the  shore. 
Every  cutter,  barge,  yawl,  or  launch  that  was  met,  and  which 
did  not  contain  an  officer  of  rank  itself,  tossed  its  oars,  as 
this  barge,  with  the  rear-admiral's  flag  fluttering  in  its  bow, 
passed,  while  the  others  lay  on  theirs,  the  gentlemen  sa 
luting  with  their  hats.  In  this  manner  the  barge  passed  the 
fleet,  and  approached  the  shore.  At  the  landing,  a  little 
natural  quay  formed  by  a  low  flat  rock,  there  was  a  general 
movement,  as  the  rear-admiral's  flag  was  seen  to  draw 
near ;  and  even  the  boats  of  captains  were  shoved  aside,  to 
give  the  naval  pas.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  foot  of  Blue- 
water  touched  the  rock,  the  little  flag  was  struck  ;  and,  a 
minute  later,  a  cutter,  with  only  a  lieutenant  in  her,  coming 
in,  that  officer  ordered  the  barge  to  make  way  for  him,  with 
an  air  of  high  and  undisputed  authority. 

Perhaps  there  was  not  a  man  in  the  British  marine,  to 
whom  the  etiquette  of  the.  service  gave  less  concern,  than  to 
Blue  water.  In  this  respect,  he  was  the  very  reverse  of  his 
friend  ;  for  Sir  Gervaise  was  a  punctilious  observer,  and  a 
rigid  enforcer  of  all  the  prescribed  ceremonials.  This  was 
by  no  means  the  only  professional  point  on  which  these  two 
distinguished  officers  differed.  It  has  already  been  men 
tioned,  that  the  rear-admiral  was  the  best  tactician  in  Eng 
land,  while  the  vice-admiral  was  merely  respectable  in  that 
branch  of  his  duty.  On  the  other  hand,  Sir  Gervaise  was 
deemed  the  best  practical  seaman  afloat,  so  far  as  a  single 
ship  was  concerned,  while  Bluewater  had  no  particular  re 
putation  in  that  way.  Then,  as  to  discipline,  the  same  dii- 
tinction  existed.  The  commander-in-chief  was  a  little  of  a 
martinet,  exacting  compliance  with  the  most  minute  regula 
tions  ;  while  his  friend,  even  when  a  captain,  had  thrown 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  173 

the  police  duty  of  his  ship  very  much  on  what  is  called  the 
executive  officer  ;  or  the  first  lieutenant ;  leaving  to  that  im 
portant  functionary,  the  duty  of  devising,  as  well  as  of  exe 
cuting  the  system  by  which  order  and  cleanliness  were 
maintained  in  the  vessel.  Nevertheless,  Bluewater  had  his 
merit  even  in  this  peculiar  feature  of  the  profession.  He 
had  made  the  best  captain  of  the  fleet  to  his  friend,  that  had 
ever  been  met  with.  This  office,  which,  in  some  measure, 
corresponds  to  that  of  an  adjutant-general  on  shore,  was 
suited  to  his  generalizing  and  philosophical  turn  of  mind ; 
and  he  had  brought  all  its  duties  within  the  circle  and  control 
of  clear  and  simple  principles,  which  rendered  them  pleasant 
and  easy.  Then,  too,  whenever  he  commanded  in  chief,  as 
frequently  happened,  for  a  week  or  two  at  a  time,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  being  absent,  it  was  remarked  that  the  common  service 
of  the  fleet  went  on  like  clock-work ;  his  mind  seeming  to 
embrace  generals,  when  it  refused  to  descend  to  details.  In 
consequence  of  these  personal  peculiarities,  the  captains 
often  observed,  that  Bluewater  ought  to  have  been  the  senior, 
and  Oakes  the  junior  ;  and  then,  their  joint  commands  would 
have  produced  perfection  :  but  these  criticisms  must  be  set 
down,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  natural  propensity  to  find 
fault,  and  an  inherent  desire  in  men,  even  when  things  are 
perfectly  well  in  themselves,  to  prove  their  own  superiority, 
by  pointing  out  modes  and  means  by  which  they  might  be 
made  much  better.  Had  the  service  been  on  land,  this 
opinion  might  possibly  have  had  more  practical  truth  in  it ; 
but,  the  impetuosity  and  daring  of  Sir  Gervaise,  were  not 
bad  substitutes  for  tactics,  in  the  straight-forward  combats 
of  ships.  To  resume  the  narrative. 

When  Bluewater  landed,  he  returned  the  profound  and 
general  salute  of  all  on  or  near  the  rock,  by  a  sweeping,  but 
courteous  bow,  which  was  nevertheless  given  in  a  vacant, 
slovenly  manner;  and  immediately  began  to  ascend  the 
ravine.  He  had  actually  reached  the  grassy  acclivity  above, 
before  he  was  at  all  aware  of  any  person's  being  near  him. 
Turning,  he  perceived  that  the  midshipman  was  at  his  heels, 
respect  alone  preventing  one  of  the  latter's  active  limbs  and 
years  from  skipping  past  his  superior  on  the  ascent.  The 
admiral  recollected  how  little  there  was  to  amuse  one  of  the 
15* 


174  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

boy's  habits  in  a  place  like  Wychecombe,  and  he  good-na 
turedly  determined  to  take  him  along  with  himself. 

"  You  are  little  likely,  to  find  any  diversion  here,  Lord 
Geoffrey,"  he  said ;  "  if  you  will  accept  of  the  society 
of  a  dull  old  fellow,  like  myself,  you  shall  see  all  I  see,  be 
it  more  01*  less." 

"  I  've  shipped  for  the  cruise,  sir,  and  am  ready  and  happy, 
too,  to  follow  your  motions,  with  or  without  signals,"  re 
turned  the  laughing  youngster.  "  I  suppose  Wychecombe 
is  about  as  good  as  Portsmouth,  or  Plymouth ;  and  I  'm  sure 
these  green  fields  are  handsomer  than  the  streets  of  any 
dirty  town  I  ever  entered." 

"  Ay,  green  fields  are,  indeed,  pleasant  to  the  eyes  of  us 
sailors,  who  see  nothing  but  water,  for  months  at  a  time. 
Turn  to  the  right,  if  you  please,  my  lord  :  I  wish  to  call  at 
yonder  signal-station,  on  my  way  to  the  Hall." 

The  boy,  as  is  not  usual  with  lads  of  his  age,  inclined  in 
"  the  way  he  was  told  to  go,"  and  in  a  few  minutes  both 
stood  on  the  head-land.  As  it  would  not  have  done  for  the 
master  to  be  absent  from  his  staff,  during  the  day,  with  a 
fleet  in  the  roads,  Button  was  already  at  his  post,  cleanly 
dressed  as  usual,  but  trembling  again  with  the  effect  of  the 
last  night's  debauch  on  his  nerves.  He  arose,  with  great 
deference  of  manner,  to  receive  the  rear-admiral,  and  not 
without  many  misgivings  of  conscience  ;  for,  while  memory 
furnished  a  tolerable  outline  of  what  had  occurred  in  the 
interview  between  himself  and  his  wife  and  daughter,  wine 
had  lost  its  influence,  and  no  longer  helped  to  sustain  his 
self-command.  He  was  much  relieved,  however,  by  the 
discreet  manner  in  which  he  was  met  by  Bluewater. 

"  How  is  Sir  Wycherly  ?"  inquired  the  admiral  saluting 
the  master,  as  if  nothing  had  happened;  "a  note  from  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  written  about  day-break,  tells  me  he  was  not,  then, 
essentially  better." 

'*  I  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  give  you  any  good  newsv 
sir.  He  must  be  conscious,  notwithstanding  ;  for  Dick,  his 
groom,  has  just  ridden  over  with  a  note  from  Mr.  Rother- 
ham,  to  say  that  the  excellent  old  baronet  particularly  desires 
to  see  my  wife  and  daughter ;  and  that  the  coach  will  be 
here,  to  take  them  over  in  a  few  minutes.  If  you  are  bound 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  175 

to  the  Hall,  this  morning,  sir,  I  'm  certain  the  ladies  would 
be  delighted  to  give  you  a  seat." 

"  Then  I  will  profit  by  their  kindness,"  returned  Blue- 
water,  seating  himself  on  the  bench  at  the  foot  of  the  staff; 
"  more  especially,  if  you  think  they  will  excuse  my  adding 
Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland,  one  of  Stowel's  midshipmen,  to 
the  party.  He  has  entered,  to  follow  my  motions,  with  or 
without  signals." 

Button  uncovered  again,  and  bowed  profoundly,  at  this 
announcement  of  the  lad's  name  and  rank  ;  the  boy  him 
self,  taking  the  salute  in  an  off-hand  and  indifferent  way, 
like  one  already  wearied  with  vulgar  adulation,  while  he 
gazed  about  him,  with  some  curiosity,  at  the  head-land  and 
flag-staff. 

"  This  a  good  look-out,  sir,"  observed  the  midshipman  ; 
"  and  one  that  is  somewhat  loftier  than  our  cross-trees.  A 
pair  of  sharp  eyes  might  see  everything  that  passes  within 
twenty  miles ;  and,  as  a  proof  of  it,  I  shall  be  the  first  to 
sing  out,  '  sail,  ho  !'  " 

"  Where-away,  my  young  lord  ?"  said  Button,  fidgeting, 
as  if  he  had  neglected  his  duty,  in  the  presence  of  a  supe 
rior  ;  "  I  'm  sure,  your  lordship  can  see  nothing  but  the 
fleet  at  anchor,  and  a  few  boats  passing  between  the  different 
ships  and  the  landing  !" 

"  Where-away,  sure  enough,  youngster  ?"  added  the  ad 
miral.  "  I  see  some  gulls  glancing  along  the  surface  of  the 
water,  a  mile  or  two  outside  the  ships,  but  nothing  like  a 
sail." 

The  boy  caught  up  Button's  glass,  which  lay  on  the  seat, 
and,  in  a  minute,  he  had  it  levelled  at  the  expanse  of  water. 
It  was  some  little  time,  and  not  without  much  sighting  along 
the  barrel  of  the  instrument,  that  he  got  it  to  suit  himself. 

"  Well,  Master  Sharp-eyes,"  said  Bluewater,  drily,  "  is  it 
a  Frenchman,  or  a  Spaniard  ?" 

"  Hold  on,  a  moment,  sir,  until  I  can  get  this  awkward 
glass  to  bear  on  it.  —  Ay — now  I  have  her — she's  but  a 
speck,  at  the  best — royals  and  head  of  top-gallant-sails— 
no  sir,  by  George,  it 's  our  own  cutter,  the  Active,  with  her 
squaresail  set,  and  the  heads  of  her  lower  sails  just  rising. 
I  know  her  by  the  way  she  carries  her  gaff." 

"  The  Active ! — that  betokens  news,"  observed  Blue  water, 


176  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

thoughtfully — for  the  march  of  events,  at  that  moment,  must 
necessarily  bring  on  a  crisis  in  his  own  career.  "  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  sent  her  to  look  into  Cherbourg." 

"  Yes  sir ;  we  all  know  that — and,  there  she  comes  to  tell 
us,  I  hope,  that  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  has,  at  last,  made  up 
his  mind  to  come  out  and  face  us,  like  a  man.  Will  you 
look  at  the  sail,  sir  ?" 

Bluewater  took  the  glass,  and  sweeping  the  horizon,  he 
soon  caught  a  view  of  his  object.  A  short  survey  sufficed, 
for  one  so  experienced,  and  he  handed  the  glass  back  to  the 
boy. 

"  You  have  quick  eyes,  sir,"  he  said,  as  he  did  so ;  "  that 
is  a  cutter,  certainly,  standing  in  for  the  roads,  and  I  believe 
you  may  be  right  in  taking  her  for  the  Active." 

"  'T  is  a  long  way  to  know  so  small  a  craft !'?  observed 
Dutton,  who  also  took  his  look  at  the  stranger. 

"  Very  true,  sir,"  answered  the  boy  ;  "  but  one  ought  to 
tell  a  friend  as  far  as  he  can  see  him.  The  Active  carries 
a  longer  and  a  lower  gaff,  than  any  other  cutter  in  the  navy, 
which  is  the  way  we  all  tell  her  from  the  Gnat,  the  cutter 
we  have  with  us." 

"  I  am  glad  to  find  yx>ur  lordship  is  so  close  an  observer," 
returned  the  complaisant  Dutton  ;  "  a  certain  sign,  my  lord 
that  your  lordship  will  make  a  good  sailor,  in  time." 

"  Geoffrey  is  a  good  sailor,  already,"  observed  the  admi 
ral,  who  knew  that  the  youngster  was  never  better  pleased, 
than  when  he  dropped  the  distance  of  using  his  title,  and 
spoke  to,  or  of  him,  as  of  a  connection  ;  which,  in  truth,  he 
was.  "  He  has  now  been  with  me  four  years  ;  having 
joined  when  he  was  only  twelve.  Two  more  years  will 
make  an  officer  of  him." 

"  Yes  sir,"  said  Dutton,  bowing  first  to  one,  and  then  to 
the  other.  "  Yes  sir  ;  his  lordship  may  well  look  forward 
to  that,  with  his  particular  merit,  your  esteemed  favour,  and 
his  own  great  name.  Ah  !  sir,  they  've  caught  a  sight  of 
the  stranger  in  the  fleet,  and  bunting  is  at  work,  already." 

In  anchoring  his  ships,  Admiral  Bluewater  had  kept  them 
as  close  together,  as  the  fog  rendered  safe ;  for  one  of 
the  great  difficulties  of  a  naval  commander  is  to  retain  his 
vessels  in  compact  order,  in  thick  or  heavy  weather.  Orders 
had  been  given,  however,  for  a  sloop  and  a  frigate  to  weigh, 


THE      TWO     ADMIRALS.  177 

and  stretch  out  into  the  offing  a  league  or  two,  as  soon  as 
the  fog  left  them,  the  preceding  day,  in  order  to  sweep  as 
wide  a  reach  of  the  horizon  as  was  convenient.  In  order 
to  maintain  their  ground  in  a  light  wind,  and  with  a  strong 
tide  running,  these  two  cruisers  had  anchored  ;  one,  at  the 
distance  of  a  league  from  the  fleet,  and  the  other,  a  mile  or 
two  farther  outside,  though  more  to  the  eastward.  The  sloop 
lay  nearest  to  the  stranger,  and  signals  were  flying  at  her 
main-royal-mast-head,  which  the  frigate  was  repeating,  and 
transmitting  to  the  flag-ship  of  the  commander-in-chief. 
Bluewater  was  so  familiar  with  all  the  ordinary  signals,  that 
it  was  seldom  he  had  recourse  to  his  book  for  the  explana 
tions  ;  and,  in  the  present  instance,  he  saw  at  once  that  it  was 
the  Active's  number  that  was  shown.  Other  signals,  how 
ever,  followed,  which  it  surpassed  the  rear-admiral's  know 
ledge  to  read,  without  assistance ;  from  all  which  he  was 
satisfied  that  the  stranger  brought  intelligence  of  importance, 
and  which  could  only  be  understood  by  referring  to  the 
private  signal-book. 

While  these  facts  were  in  the  course  of  occurrence,  the 
coach  arrived  to  convey  Mrs.  Button  and  Mildred  to  the 
Hall.  Bluewater  now  presented  himself  to  the  ladies,  and 
was  received  as  kindly  as  they  had  separated  from  him  a 
few  hours  before ;  nor  were  the  latter  displeased  at  hearing 
he  was  to  be  their  companion  back  to  the  dwelling  of  Sir 
Wycherly. 

"  I  fear  this  summons  bodes  evil  tidings,"  said  Mrs.  Dut- 
ton  ;  "  he  would  hardly  think  of  desiring  to  see  us,  unless 
something  quite  serious  were  on  his  mind ;  and  the  messen 
ger  said  he  was  no  better." 

"  We  shall  learn  all,  my  dear  lady,  when  we  reach  the 
Hall,"  returned  Bluewater ;  "  and  the  sooner  we  reach  it, 
the  sooner  our  doubts  will  be  removed.  Before  we  enter 
the  carriage,  let  me  make  you  acquainted  with  my  young 
friend,  Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland,  whom  I  have  presumed  to 
invite  to  be  of  the  party." 

The  handsome  young  midshipman  was  well  received, 
though  Mrs.  Button  had  been  too  much  accustomed,  in  early 
life,  to  see  people  of  condition,  to  betray  the  same  deference 
as  her  husband  for  the  boy's  rank.  The  ladies  occupied,  as 
usual,  the  hind  seat  of  the  coach,  leaving  that  in  front  to 


178  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

their  male  companions.  The  arrangement  accidentally 
brought  Mildred  and  the  midshipman  opposite  each  other ;  a 
circumstance  that  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  admi 
ral,  in  a  way  that  was  a  little  odd  ;  if  not  remarkable. 
There  is  a  charm  in  youth,  that  no  other  period  of  life  pos 
sesses  ;  infancy,  with  its  helpless  beauty,  scarcely  seizing 
upon  the  imagination  and  senses  with  an  equal  force.  Both 
the  young  persons  in  question,  possessed  this  advantage  in 
a  high  degree  ;  and  had  there  been  no  other  peculiarity,  the 
sight  might  readily  have  proved  pleasing  to  one  of  Bluewa- 
ter's  benevolence  and  truth  of  feeling.  The  boy  was  turned 
of  sixteen  ;  an  age  in  England  when  youth  does  not  yet  piT. 
on  the  appearance  of  manhood ;  and  he  retained  all  the 
evidences  of  a  gay,  generous  boyhood,  rendered  a  little 
piquant,  by  the  dash  of  archness,  roguery,  and  fun,  that  a 
man-of-war  is  tolerably  certain  to  impart  to  a  lad  of  spirit. 
Nevertheless,  his  countenance  retained  an  expression  of 
ingenuousness  and  of  sensitive  feeling,  that  was  singularly 
striking  in  one  of  his  sex,  and  which,  in  spite  of  her  beauty 
of  feature,  hair,  and  complexion,  formed  the  strongest 
attraction  in  the  loveliness  of  Mildred  ;  that  expression, 
which  had  so  much  struck  and  charmed  Bluewater — haunted 
him,  we  might  add — since  the  previous  day,  by  appearing 
so  familiar,  even  while  so  extraordinary,  and  for  which  he 
had  been  unable  to  recollect  a  counterpart.  As  she  now 
sat,  face  to  face  with  Lord  Geoffrey,  to  his  great  surprise, 
the  rear-admiral  found  much  of  the  same  character  of  this 
very  expression  in  the  handsome  boy,  as  in  the  lovely 
girl.  It  is  true,  the  look  of  ingenuousness  and  of  sensitive 
feeling,  was  far  less  marked  in  young  Cleveland,  than  in 
Mildred,  and  there  was  little  general  resemblance  of  feature 
or  countenance  between  the  two ;  still,  the  first,  was  to  be 
found  in  both,  and  so  distinctly,  as  to  be  easily  traced,  when 
placed  in  so  close  contact.  Geoffrey  Cleveland  had  the  re 
putation  of  being  like  his  mother  ;  and,  furnished  with  this 
clue,  the  fact  suddenly  flashed  on  Bluewater's  mind,  that  the 
being  whom  Mildred  so  nearly  and  strikingly  resembled, 
was  a  deceased  sister  of  the  Duchess,  and  a  beloved  cousin 
of  his  own.  Miss  Hedworth,  the  young  lady  in  question, 
had  long  been  dead ;  but,  all  who  had  known  her,  retained 


THE     TWO   ADMIRALS.  179 

the  most  pleasing  impressions  equally  of  her  charms  of 
person  and  of  mind.  Between  her  and  Bluewater  there  had 
existed  a  tender  friendship,  in  which,  however,  no  shade  of 
passion  had  mingled  ;  a  circumstance  that  was  in  part  owing 
to  the  difference  in  their  years,  Captain  Bluewater  having 
been  nearly  twice  his  young  relative's  age ;  and  in  part,  pro 
bably,  to  the  invincible  manner  in  which  the  latter  seemed 
wedded  to  his  profession,  and  his  ship.  Agnes  Hedworth, 
notwithstanding,  had  been  very  dear  to  our  sailor,  from  a 
variety  of  causes, — far  more  so,  than  her  sister,  the  Duchess, 
though  she  was  a  favourite — and  the  rear-admiral,  when  his 
mind  glanced  rapidly  through  the  chain  of  association,  that 
traced  the  accidental  resemblance  of  Mildred  to  this  esteemed 
object,  had  a  sincere  delight  in  finding  he  had  thus  been 
unconsciously  attracted  by  one  whose  every  look  and  smile 
now  forcibly  reminded  him  of  the  countenance  of  a  being 
whom,  in  her  day,  he  had  thought  so  near  perfection.  This 
delight,  however,  was  blended  with  sadness,  on  various  ac 
counts  ;  and  the  short  excursion  proved  to  be  so  melancholy, 
that  no  one  was  sorry  when  it  terminated. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

"  Nat.  Truly,  Master  Holofernes,  the  epithets  are  sweetly  varied, 
like  a  scholar,  at  the  least:  But,  sir,  I  assure  ye,  it  was  a  buck  of 
the  first  head. 

Hoi.  Sir  Nathaniel,  haud  credo. 

Bull.  'T  was  not  a  haud  credo,  't  was  a  pricket." 

Love's  Labour  Lost. 

EVERY  appearance  of  the  jolly  negligence  which  had  been 
so  characteristic  of  life  at  Wychecombe-Hall,  had  vanished, 
when  the  old  coach  drew  up  in  the  court,  to  permit  the 
party  it  had  brought  from  the  station  to  alight.  As  no  one 
was  expected  but  Mrs.  Button  and  her  daughter,  not  even  a 
footman  appeared  to  open  the  door  of  the  carriage ;  the 
vulgar-minded  usually  revenging  their  own  homage  to  the 


180  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

powerful,  by  manifesting  as  many  slights  as  possible  to  the 
weak.  Galleygo  let  the  new-comers  out,  and,  consequently, 
he  was  the  first  person  of  whom  inquiries  were  made,  as  to 
the  state  of  things  in  the  house. 

"  Well,"  said  Admiral  Bluewater,  looking  earnestly  at 
the  steward ;  "  how  is  Sir  Wycherly,  and  what  13  the 
news  ?" 

"  Sir  Wycherly  is  still  on  the  doctor's  list,  your  honour ; 
and  I  expects  his  case  is  set  down  as  a  hard  'un.  We  's  as 
well  as  can  be  expected,  and  altogether  in  good  heart.  Sir 
Jarvy  turned  out  with  the  sun,  thof  he  didn't  turn  in  'till 
the  middle-watch  was  half  gone — or  two  bells,  as  they  calls 
'em  aboard  this  house— -four  bells,  as  we  should  say  in  the 
old  Planter  —  and  chickens,  I  hears,  has  riz,  a  shillin'  a 
head,  since  our  first  boat  landed." 

"  It 's  a  melancholy  business,  Mrs.  Button ;  I  fear  there 
can  be  little  hope." 

"  Yes  it 's  all  that,  Admiral  Blue,"  continued  Galleygo, 
following  the  party  into  the  house,  no  one  but  himself  hear 
ing  a  word  he  uttered ;  "  and  't  will  be  worse,  afore  it 's 
any  better.  They  tells  me  potaties  has  taken  a  start,  too ; 
and,  as  all  the  b'ys  of  all  the  young  gentlemen  in  the  flee 
is  out,  like  so  many  wild  locusts  of  Hegypt,  I  expects  no 
thing  better  than  as  our  mess  will  fare  as  bad  as  sogers  01 
a  retreat." 

In  the  hall,  Tom  Wychecombe,  and  his  namesake,  tfo 
lieutenant,  met  the  party.  From  the  formal  despondency  01 
the  first,  everything  they  apprehended  was  confirmed.  Th» 
last,  however,  was  more  cheerful,  and  not  altogether  withou 
hope ;  as  he  did  not  hesitate  openly  to  avow. 

"  For  myself,  I  confess  I  think  Sir  Wycherly  much  bet 
ter,"  he  said ;  "  although  the  opinion  is  not  sanctioned  b] 
that  of  the  medical  men.  His  desiring  to  see  these  ladies  r 
favourable ;  and  then  cheering  news  for  him  has  beer 
brought  back,  already,  by  the  messenger  sent,  only  eigh 
hours  since,  for  his  kinsman,  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe 
He  has  sensibly  revived  since  that  report  was  brought  in." 

"  Ah !  my  dear  namesake,"  rejoined  Tom,  shaking  hi& 
head,  mournfully ;  "you  cannot  know  my  beloved  uncle's 
constitution  andVeelings  as  well  as  I !  Rely  on  it,  the  medi 
cal  men  are  right ;  and  your  hopes  deceive  you.  Tho 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  181 

sending  for  Mrs.  Button  and  Miss  Mildred,  both  of  whom 
my  honoured  uncle  respects  and  esteems,  looks  more  like 
leave-taking  than  anything  else  ;  and^as  to  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe, — though  a  relative,  beyond  a  question,  —  I 
think  there  has  been  some  mistake  in  sending  for  him  ;  since 
he  is  barely  an  acquaintance  of  the  elder  branch  of  the 
family,  and  he  is  of  the  half-blood." 

"  Half  what,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  ?"  demanded 
the  vice-admiral  so  suddenly,  behind  the  speaker,  as  to 
cause  all  to  start;  SirGervaise  having  hastened  to  meet  the 
ladies  and  his  friend,  as  soon  as  he  knew  of  their  arrival. 
"  1  ask  pardon,  sir,  for  my  abrupt  inquiry  ;  but,  as  /  was 
the  means  of  sending  for  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  I  feel 
an  interest  in  knowing  his  exact  relationship  to  my  host  ?" 

Tom  started,  and  even  paled,  at  this  sudden  question ; 
then  the  colour  rushed  into  his  temples ;  he  became  calmer, 
and  replied. 

"  Half-blood,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  said,  steadily.  "  This  is 
an  affinity  that  puts  a  person  altogether  out  of  the  line  of 
succession  ;  and,  of  course,  removes  any  necessity,  or  wish, 
to  see  Sir  Reginald." 

"  Half-blood — hey  !  Atwood  ?"  muttered  the  vice-admiral, 
turning  away  towards  his  secretary,  who  had  followed  him 
down  stairs.  "  This  may  be  the  solution,  after  all !  Do 
you  happen  to  know  what  half-Mood  means  ?  It  cannot 
signify  that  Sir  Reginald  comes  from  one  of  those,  who  have 
no  father — all  their  ancestry  consisting  only  of  a  mother  ?" 

"  I  should  think  not,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  in  that  case,  Sir 
Reginald  would  scarcely  be  considered  of  so  honourable  a 
lineage,  as  he  appears  to  be.  I  have  not  the  smallest  idea, 
sir,  what  half-blood  means ;  and,  perhaps,  it  may  not  be 
amiss  to  inquire  of  the  medical  gentlemen.  Magrath  is  up 
stairs  ;  possibly  he  can  tell  us." 

"  I  rather  think  it  has  something  to  do  with  the  law.  If 
this  out-of-the-way  place,  now,  could  furnish  even  a  lubberly 
attorney,  we  might  learn  all  about  it.  Harkee,  Atwood  ; 
you  must  stand  by  to  make  Sir  Wycherly's  will,  if  he  says 
anything  more  about  it — have  you  got  the  heading  all  writ- 
fen  out,  as  I  desired." 

"  It  is  quite  ready,  Sir  Gervaise — beginning,  as  usual, 
( In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.'  I  have  even  ventured  so  far 
16 


182  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

as  to  describe  the  testator's  style  and  residence,  &c.  &c. — 
*  I,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  Bart.,  of  Wychecombe 
Hall,  Devon,  do  ma^e  and  declare  this  to  be  my  last  will 
and  testament,  &c.  &c.'  Nothing  is  wanting  but  the  devises, 
as  the  lawyers  call  them.  I  can  manage  a  will,  well  enough, 
Sir  Gervaise,  I  believe.  One  of  mine  has  been  in  the  courts, 
now,  these  five  years,  and  they  tell  me  it  sticks  there,  as 
well  as  if  it  had  been  drawn  in  the  Middle  Temple." 

"  Ay,  I  know  your  skill.  Still,  there  can  be  no  harm  in 
just  asking  Magrath ;  though  I  think  it  must  be  law,  after 
all !  Run  up  and  ask  him,  Atwood,  and  bring  me  the 
answer  in  the  drawing-room,  where  I  see  Bluewater  has 
gone  with  his  convoy ;  and— harkee — tell  the  surgeons  to 
let  us  know  the  instant  the  patient  says  anything  about  his 
temporal  affairs.  The  twenty  thousand  in  the  funds  are 
his,  to  do  what  he  pleases  with  ;  let  the  land  be  tied  up,  as 
it  may." 

While  this  "  aside,"  was  going  on  in  the  hall,  Bluewater 
and  the  rest  of  the  party  had  entered  a  small  parlour,  that 
was  in  constant  use,  still  conversing  of  the  state  of  Sir  Wy 
cherly.  As  all  of  them,  but  the  two  young  men,  were 
ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the  message  to  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe,  and  of  the  intelligence  in  connection  with 
that  gentleman,  which  had  just  been  received,  Mrs.  Button 
had  ventured  to  ask  an  explanation,  which  was  given  by 
Wycherly,  with  a  readiness  that  proved  he  felt  no  appre 
hensions  on  the  subject. 

"  Sir  Wycherly  desired  to  see  his  distant  relative,  Sir 
Reginald,"  said  the  lieutenant ;  "  and  the  messenger  who 
was  sent  to  request  his  attendance,  fortunately  learned  from 
a  post-boy,  that  the  Hertfordshire  baronet,  in  common  with 
many  other  gentlemen,  is  travelling  in  the  west,  just  at  this 
moment ;  and  that  he  slept  last  night,  at  a  house  only 
twenty  miles  distant.  The  express  reached  him  several 
hours  since,  and  an  answer  has  been  received,  informing  us 
that  we  may  expect  to  see  him,  in  an  hour  or  two." 

Thus  much  was  related  by  Wycherly  ;  but,  we  may  add 
that  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  was  a  Catholic,  as  it 
wrs  then  upual  to  term  the  Romanists,  and  in  secret,  a  Ja 
cobite  ;  and,  in  common  with  many  of  that  religious  persua 
sion,  he  was  down  in  the  west,  to  see  if  a  rising  could  not 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  183 

be  organized  in  that  part  of  the  kingdom,  as  a  diversion  to 
any  attempt  to  repel  the  young  Pretender  in  the  north.  As 
the  utmost  caution  was  used  by  the  conspirators,  this  fact 
was  not  even  suspected  by  any  who  were  not  in  the  secret 
of  the  whole  proceeding.  Understanding  that  his  relation 
was  an  inefficient  old  man,  Sir  Reginald,  himself  an  active 
and  sagacious  intriguer,  had  approached  thus  near  to  the 
old  paternal  residence  of  his  family,  in  order  to  ascertain  if 
his  own  name  and  descent  might  not  aid  him  in  obtaining 
levies  among  the  ancient  tenantry  of  the  estate.  That  day 
he  had  actually  intended  to  appear  at  Wychecombe,  dis 
guised,  and  under  an  assumed  name.  He  proposed  venturing 
on  this  step,  because  circumstances  put  it  in  his  power,  to 
give  what  he  thought  would  be  received  as  a  sufficient 
excuse,  should  his  conduct  excite  comment. 

Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  was  a  singular,  but  by  no 
means  an  unnatural  compound  of  management  and  integrity. 
His  position  as  a  Papist  had  disposed  him  to  intrigue,  while 
his  position  as  one  proscribed  by  religious  hostility,  had  dis 
posed  him  to  be  a  Papist.  Thousands  are  made  men  of 
activity,  and  even  of  importance,  by  persecution  and  pro 
scription,  who  would  pass  through  life  quietly  and  unno 
ticed,  if  the  meddling  hand  of  human  forethought  did  not 
force  them  into  situations  that  awaken  their  hostility,  and 
quicken  their  powers.  This  gentleman  was  a  firm  believer 
in  all  the  traditions  of  his  church,  though  his  learning  ex 
tended  little  beyond  his  missal ;  and  he  put  the  most  implicit 
reliance  on  the  absurd,  because  improbable,  fiction  of  the 
Nag's  Head  consecration,  without  having  even  deemed  it 
necessary  to  look  into  a  particle  of  that  testimony  by  which 
alone  such  a  controversy  could  be  decided.  In  a  word,  he 
was  an  instance  of  what  religious  intolerance  has  ever  done, 
and  will  probably  for  ever  continue  to  do,  with  so  wayward 
a  being  as  man. 

.Apart  from  this  weakness,  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  had 
both  a  shrewd  and  an  inquiring  mind.  His  religion  ho  left 
very  much  to  the  priests ;  but  of  his  temporal  affairs  he  as 
sumed  a  careful  and  prudent  supervision.  He  was  much 
richer  than  the  head  of  the  family  ;  but,  while  he  had  no 
meannesses  connected  with  money,  he  had  no  objection  to 
be  the  possessor  of  the  old  family  estates.  Of  his  own  rela- 


184  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

tion  to  the  head  of  this  family,  he  was  perfectly  aware,  and 
the  circumstance  of  the  half-blocd,  with  all  its  legal  conse 
quences,  was  no  secret  to  him.  Sir  Reginald  VVyche- 
combe  was  not  a  man  to  be  so  situated,  without  having 
recourse  to  all  proper  means,  in  order,  as  it  has  become  the 
fashion  of  the  day  to  express  it,  "  to  define  his  position." 
By  means  of  a  shrewd  attorney,  if  not  of  his  own  religious, 
at  least  of  his  own  p.olitical  opinions,  he  had  ascertained  the 
fact,  and  this  from  the  mouth  of  Martha  herself,  that  Baron 
Wychecombe  had  never  married ;  and  that,  consequently, 
Tom  and  his  brothers  were  no  more  heirs  at  law  to  the 
Wychecombe  estate,  than  he  was  in  his  own  person.  He 
fully  understood,  too,  that  there  was  no  heir  at  law ;  and 
that  the  lands  must  escheat,  unless  the  present  owner  made 
a  will ;  and  to  this  last  act,  his  precise  information  told  him 
that  Sir  Wycherly  had  an  unconquerable  reluctance.  Under 
such  circumstances,  it  is  not  at  all  surprising,  that  when  the 
Hertfordshire  baronet  was  thus  unexpectedly  summoned  to 
the  bed-side  of  his  distant  kinsman,  he  inferred  that  his  own 
claims  were  at  length  to  be  tardily  acknowledged,  and  that 
he  was  about  to  be  put  in  possession  of  the  estates  of  his 
legitimate  ancestors.  It  is  still  less  wonderful,  that,  believ 
ing  this,  he  promptly  promised  to  lose  no  time  in  obeying 
the  summons,  determining  momentarily  to  forget  his  political, 
in  order  to  look  a  little  after  his  personal  interests. 

The  reader  will  understand,  of  course,  that  all  thes.e  details 
were  unknown  to  the  inmates  of  the  Hall,  beyond  the  fact 
of  the  expected  arrival  of  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  and 
that  of  the  circumstance  of  the  half-blood ;  which,  in  its 
true  bearing,  was  known  alone  to  Tom.  Their  thoughts 
were  directed  towards  the  situation  of  their  host,  and  little 
was  said,  or  done,  that  had  not  his  immediate  condition  for 
the  object.  It  being  understood,  however,  that  the  surgeons 
kept  the  sick  chamber  closed  against  all  visitors,  a  silent  and 
melancholy  breakfast  was  taken  by  the  whole  party,  in 
waiting  for  the  moment  when  they  might  be  admitted. 
When  this  cheerless  meal  was  ended,  Sir  Gervaise  desired 
Bluewater  to  follow  him  to  his  room,  whither  he  led  the  way 
in  person. 

"  It  is  possible,  certainly,  that  Vervillin  is  out,"  com 
menced  the  vice-admirnl,  when  they  were  alone  ;  "  I  nit  wn 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  185 

shull  know  more  about  it,  when  the  cutter  gets  in,  and 
reports.  You  saw  nothing  but  her  number,  I  think  you  told 
me?" 

"  She  was  at  work  with  private  signals,  when  I  left  the 
head-land  ;  of  course  I  was  unable  to  read  them  without  the 
book." 

"  That  Vervillin  is  a  good  fellow,"  returned  Sir  Gervaise, 
rubbing  his  hands  ;  a  way  he  had  when  much  pleased  ;  "  and 
has  stuff  in  him.  He  has  thirteen  two-decked  ships,  Dick, 
and  that  will  be  one  apiece  for  our  captains,  and  a  spare 
one  for  each  of  our  flags.  I  believe  there  is  no  three-decker 
in  that  squadron  ?" 

"  There  you  've  made  a  small  mistake,  Sir  Gervaise,  as 
the  Comte  de  Vervillin  had  his  flag  in  the  largest  three- 
decker  of  France;  le  Bourbon  120.  The  rest  of  his  ships 
are  like  our  own,  though  much  fuller  manned." 

"  Never  mind,  Blue — never  mind  : — we  '11  put  two  on  the 
Bourbon,  and  try  to  make  our  frigates  of  use.  Besides,  you 
have  a  knack  at  keeping  the  fleet  so  compact,  that  it  is  nearly 
a  single  battery." 

"  May  I  venture  to  ask,  then,  if  it 's  your  intention  to  go 
out,  should  the  news  by  the  Active  prove  to  be  what  you 
anticipate  ?" 

Sir  Gervaise  cast  a  quick,  distrustful  glance  at  the  other, 
anxious  to  read  the  motive  for  the  question,  at  the  same  time 
that  he  did  not  wish  to  betray  his  own  feelings ;  then  he 
appeared  to  meditate  on  the  answer. 

"  It  is  not  quite  agreeable  to  lie  here,  chafing  our  cables, 
with  a  French  squadron  roving  the  channel,"  he  said  ;  "  but 
I  rather  think  it 's  my  duty  to  wait  for  orders  from  the 
Admiralty,  under  present  circumstances." 

"  Do  you  expect  my  lords  will  send  you  through  the 
Straits  of  Dover,  to  blockade  the  Frith  ?" 

"  If  they  do,  Bluewater,  I  shall  hope  for  your  company. 
I  trust,  a  night's  rest  has  given  you  different  views  of  what 
ought  to  be  a  seaman's  duty,  when  his  country  is  at  open 
war  with  her  ancient  and  most  powerful  enemies." 

"  It  is  the  prerogative  of  the  crown  to  declare  war,  Oakes. 
No  one  but  a  lawful  sovereign  can  make  a  lawful  war." 

"  Ay,  here  come  your  cursed  distinctions  about  dejure  and 
de  facto,  again.  By  the  way,  Dick,  you  are  something  of 
16* 


186  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

a  schc1ar — can  you  tell  me  what  is  understood  by  calling  a 
man  a  nullus  ?" 

Admiral  Bluewater,  who  had  taken  his  usual  lolling  atti 
tude  in  the  most  comfortable  chair  he  could  find,  while  his 
more  mercurial  friend  kept  pacing  the  room,  now  raised  his 
head  in  surprise,  following  the  quick  motions  of  the  other, 
with  his  eyes,  as  if  he  doubted  whether  he  had  rightly  heard 
the  question. 

"It's  plain  English,  is  it  not? — or  plain  Latin,  if  you 
will — what  is  meant  by  calling  a  man  a  nullus?"  repeated 
Sir  Gervaise,  observing  the  other's  manner. 

"The  Latin  is  plain  enough,  certainly,"  returned  Blue- 
water,  smiling ;  "  you  surely  do  not  mean  nullus,  nulla, 
nullum  r 

"  Exactly  that — you  've  hit  it  to  a  gender. — Nullus,  nulla, 
nullum.  No  man,  no  woman,  no  thing.  Masculine,  femi 
nine,  neuter." 

"  I  never  heard  the  saying.  If  ever  used,  it  must  be  some 
silly  play  on  sounds,  and  mean  a  numskull — or,  perhaps,  a 
fling  at  a  fellow's  position,  by  saying  he  is  a  '  nobody.'  Who 
the  deuce  has  been  calling  another  a  nullus,  in  the  presence 
of  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  southern  squadron?" 

"  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe — our  unfortunate  host, 
here :  the  poor  man  who  is  on  his  death-bed,  on  this  very 
floor." 

Again  Bluewater  raised  his  head,  and  once  more  his  eye 
sought  the  face  of  his  friend.  Sir  Gervaise  had  now  stopped 
short,  with  his  hands  crossed  behind  his  back,  looking  in 
tently  at  the  other,  in  expectation  of  the  answer. 

"  I  thought  it  might  be  some  difficulty  from  the  fleet — • 
some  silly  fellow  complaining  of  another  still  more  silly  for 
using  such  a  word.  Sir  Wycherly  ! — the  poor  man's  mind 
must  have  failed  him." 

"  I  rather  think  not;  if  it  has,  there  is  'method  in  his 
madness,'  for  he  persevered,  most  surprisingly,  in  the  use 
of  the  term.  His  nephew,  Tom  Wychecombe,  the  presump 
tive  heir,  he  insists  on  it,  is  a  nullus  ;  while  this  Sir  Regi 
nald,  who  is  expected  to  arrive  every  instant,  he  says  is  only 
half — or  half-blood,  as  it  has  since  been  explained  to  us." 

"  I  am  afraid  this  nephew  will  prove  to  be  anything  bul 
nullus,  when  he  succeeds  to  the  estate  and  title,"  answered 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  187 

Bluewater,  gravely.  "  A  more  sinister-looking  scoundrel, 
I  never  laid  eyes  on." 

"  That  is  just  my  way  of  thinking ;  and  not  in  the  least 
like  the  family." 

"  This  matter  of  likenesses  is  not  easily  explained,  Oakes. 
We  see  parents  and  children  without  any  visible  resemblance 
to  each  other  ;  and  then  we  find  startling  likenesses  between 
utter  strangers." 

"  Bachelor's  children  may  be  in  that  predicament,  cer 
tainly  ;  but  I  should  think  few  others.  I  never  yet  studied 
a  child,  that  I  did  not  find  some  resemblance  to  both  parents  : 
covert  and  only  transitory,  perhaps ;  but  a  likeness  so  dis 
tinct  as  to  establish  the  relationship.  What  an  accursed 
chance  it  is,  that  our  noble  young  lieutenant  should  have  no 

claim  on  this  old  baronet ;  while  this  d d  nullus  is  both 

heir  at  law,  and  heir  of  entail !  I  never  took  half  as  much 
interest  in  any  other  man's  estate,  as  I  take  in  the  succession 
to  this  of  our  poor  host !" 

"  There  you  are  mistaken,  Oakes  ;  you  took  more  in 
mine;  for,  when  I  made  a  will  in  your  own  favour,  and 
gave  it  to  you  to  read,  you  tore  it  in  two,  and  threw  it  over 
board,  with  your  own  hand." 

"  Ay,  that  was  an  act  of  lawful  authority.  As  your  supe 
rior,  I  countermanded  that  will !  I  hope  you  've  made 
another,  and  given  your  money,  as  I  told  you,  to  your 
cousin,  the  Viscount." 

"  I  did,  but  that  will  has  shared  the  fate  of  the  first.  It 
appearing  to  me,  that  we  are  touching  on  serious  times,  an<5 
Bluewater  being  rich  already,  I  destroyed  the  devise  in  hit 
favour,  and  made  a  new  one,  this  very  morning.  As  yot 
5ro  my  executor,  as  usual,  it  may  be  well  to  let  you  knov 
it." 

"  Dick,  you  have  not  been  mad  enough  to  cut  off  the  hea< 
of  your  own  family — your  own  flesh  and  blood,  as  it  migh 
be — to  leave  the  few  thousands  you  own,  to  this  mad  adven 
turer  in  Scotland !" 

Bluewater  smiled  at  this  evidence  of  the  familiarity  of  his 
friend  with  his  own  way  of  thinking  and  feeling ;  and,  for 
a  single  instant,  he  regretted  that  ho  had  not  put  his  first 
intention  in  force,  in  order  that  the  conformity  of  views  might 
have  been  still  more  perfect;  but, putting  a  hand  m  his  pocket, 


188  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

he  drew  out  the  document  itself,  and  leaning  forward,  gavr 
it  carelessly  to  Sir  Gervaise. 

"  There  is  the  will ;  and  by  looking  it  over,  you  will  knov 
what  I  Ve  done,"  he  said.  "  I  wish  you  would  keep  it ;  for 
if  *  misery  makes  us  acquainted  with  strange  bed-fellows,' 
revolutions  reduce  us,  often,  to  strange  plights,  and  the  pape» 
will  be  safer  with  you  than  with  me.  Of  course,  you  wil1 
keep  my  secret,  until  the  proper  time  to  reveal  it  shal1 
arrive." 

The  vice-admiral,  who  knew  that  he  had  no  direct  interest 
in  his  friend's  disposition  of  his  property,  took  the  will,  with 
a  good  deal  of  curiosity  to  ascertain  its  provisions.  So  short 
a  testament  was  soon  read ;  and  his  eye  rested  intently  OP 
the  paper  until  it  had  taken  in  the  last  word.  Then  his  hand 
dropped,  and  he  regarded  Bluewater  with  a  surprise  he 
neither  affected,  nor  wished  to  conceal.  He  did  not  doubt 
his  friend's  sanity,  but  he  greatly  questioned  his  discretion. 

"  This  is  a  very  simple,  but  a  very  ingenious  arrange 
ment,  to  disturb  the  order  of  society,"  he  said ;  **  and  to 
convert  a  very  modest  and  unpretending,  though  lovely  girl, 
into  a  forward  and  airs-taking  old  woman  !  What  is  this 
Mildred  Button  to  you,  that  you  should  bequeath  to  her 
£30,000  ?" 

"  She  is  one  of  the  meekest,  most  ingenuous,  purest,  and 
loveliest,  of  her  meek,  ingenuous,  pure,  and  lovely  sex, 
crushed  to  the  earth  by  the  curse  of  a  brutal,  drunken 
father ;  and,  I  am  resolute  to  see  that  this  world,  for  once, 
afford  some  compensation  for  its  own  miseries." 

'*  Never  doubt  that,  Richard  Bluewater  ;  never  doubt  that. 
So  certain  is  vice,  or  crime,  to  bring  its  own  punishment  in 
this  life,  that  one  may  well  question  if  any  other  hell  is 
needed.  And,  depend  on  it,  your  meek,  modest  ingenuous 
ness,  in  its  turn,  will  not  go  unrewarded." 

"  Quite  true,  so  far  as  the  spirit  is  concerned  ;  but,  I  mean 
to  provide  a  little  for  the  comfort  of  the  body.  You  remem 
ber  Agnes  Hedworth,  I  take  it  for  granted  ?" 

"  Remember  her  ! — out  of  all  question.  Had  the  war  left 
me  leisure  for  making  love,  she  was  the  only  woman  I  ever 
knew,  who  could  have  brought  me  to  her  feet— I  mean  as  a 
dog,  Dick." 

"  Do  you  see  no  resemblance  between  her  and  this  Mil- 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  189 

dred  Button?  It  is  in  the  expression  rather  than  in  the 
features — but,  it  is  the  expression  which  alone  denotes  the 
character." 

"  By  George,  you  're  right,  Bluewater ;  and  this  relieves 
me  from  some  embarrassment  I  've  felt  about  that  very  ex 
pression  of  which  you  speak.  She  is  like  poor  Agnes,  who 
became  a  saint  earlier  than  any  of  us  could  have  wished. 
Living  or  dead,  Agnes  Hedworth  must  be  an  angel !  You 
were  fonder  of  her,  than  of  any  other  woman,  I  believe. 
At  one  time,  I  thought  you  might  propose  for  her  hand." 

"  It  was  not  that  sort  of  affection,  and  you  could  not  have 
known  her  private  history,  or  you  would  not  have  fancied 
this.  I  was  so  situated  in  the  way  of  relatives,  that  Agnes, 
though  only  the  child  of  a  cousin-german,  was  the  nearest 
youthful  female  relative  I  had  on  earth  ;  and  I  regarded  her 
more  as  a  sister,  than  as  a  creature  who  could  ever  become 
my  wife.  She  was  sixteen  years  my  junior ;  and  by  the 
time  she  had  become  old  enough  to  marry,  I  was  accus 
tomed  to  think  of  her  only  as  one  destined  for  another  sta 
tion.  The  same  feeling  existed  as  to  her  sister,  the  Duchess, 
though  in  a  greatly  lessened  degree." 

"  Poor,  sweet  Agnes  ! — and  it  is  on  account  of  this  acci 
dental  resemblance,  that  you  have  determined  to  make  the 
daughter  of  a  drunken  sailing-master  your  heiress  ?" 

"  Not  altogether  so ;  the  will  was  drawn  before  I  was 
conscious  that  the  likeness  existed.  Still,  it  has  probably, 
unknown  to  myself,  greatly  disposed  me  to  view  her  with 
favour.  But,  Gervaise,  Agnes  herself  was  not  fairer  in 
person,  or  more  lovely  in  mind,  than  this  very  Mildred 
Button." 

u  Well,  you  have  not  been  accustomed  to  regard  her  as 
a  sister ;  and  she  has  become  marriageable,  without  there 
having  been  any  opportunity  for  your  regarding  her  as  so 
peculiarly  sacred,  Bick  !"  returned  Sir  Gervaise,  half  sup 
pressing  a  smile  as  he  threw  a  quiet  glance  at  his  friend. 

"  You  know  this  to  be  idle,  Oakes.  Some  one  must  in 
herit  my  money  ;  my  brother  is  long  since  deai  ;  even  poor, 
poor  Agnes  is  gone  ;  her  sister  don't  need  it ,  Bluewater  is 
an  over-rich  bachelor,  already  ;  you  won't  take  it,  and  what 
better  can  I  do  with  it  ?  If  you  could  have  seen  the  cruel 
manner  in  which  the  spirits  of  both  mother  and  daughter 


190  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

were  crushed  to  the  earth  last  night,  by  that  beast  of  a  hus 
band  and  father,  you  would  have  felt  a  desire  to  relieve  theii 
misery,  even  though  it  had  cost  you  Bowldero,  and  half 
your  money  in  the  funds." 

"  Umph  !  Bowldero  has  been  in  my  family  five  centuries, 
and  is  likely  to  remain  there,  Master  Bluewater,  five  more ; 
unless,  indeed,  your  dashing  Pretender  should  succeed,  and 
take  it  away  by  confiscation." 

"  There,  again,  was  another  inducement.  Should  I  leave 
my  cash  to  a  rich  person,  and  should  chance  put  me  on  the 
wrong  side  in  this  struggle,  the  king,  de  facto,  would  get  it 
all ;  whereas,  even  a  German  would  not  have  the,  heart  to 
rob  a  poor  creature  like  Mildred  of  her  support." 

"  The  Scotch  are  notorious  for  bowels,  in  such  matters  ! 
Well,  have  it  your  own  way,  Dick.  It 's  of  no  great  moment 
what  you  do  with  your  prize-money  ;  though  I  had  supposed 
it  would  fall  into  the  hands  of  this  boy,  Geoffrey  Cleveland, 
who  is  no  discredit  to  your  blood." 

"  He  will  have  a  hundred  thousand  pounds,  at  five-and- 
twenty,  that  were  left  him  by  old  Lady  Greenfield,  his  great- 
aunt,  and  that  is  more  than  he  will  know  what  to  do  with. 
But,  enough  of  this.  Have  you  received  further  tidings  from 
the  north,  during  the  night  ?" 

"  Not  a  syllable.  This  is  a  retired  part  of  the  country  ; 
and  half  Scotland  might  be  capsized  in  one  of  its  loughs, 
and  we  not  know  of  it,  for  a  week,  down  here  in  Devonshire. 
Should  I  get  no  intelligence  or  orders,  in  the  next  thirty-six 
hours,  I  think  of  posting  up  to  London,  leaving  you  in  com 
mand  of  the  fleet." 

"  That  may  not  be  wise.  You  would  scarcely  confide  so 
important  a  trust,  in  such  a  crisis,  to  a  man  of  my  political 
feelings — I  will  not  say  opinions;  since  you  attribute  all  to 
sentiment." 

"  I  would  confide  my  life  and  honour  to  you,  Richard 
Bluewater,  with  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  security  of 
both,  so  long  as  it  depended  on  your  own  acts  or  inclinations. 
We  must  first  see,  however,  what  news  the  Active  brings 
us ;  for,  if  de  Vervillin  is  really  out,  I  shall  assume  that 
the  duty  of  an  English  sailor  is  to  beat  a  Frenchman,  before 
all  other  considerations." 

"  If  he  can,"  drily  observed  the  other,  raising  his  right 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  191 

leg  so  high  as  to  place  the  foot  on  the  top  of  an  old-fashioned 
chair  ;  an  effort  that  nearly  brought  his  back  in  a  horizontal 
line. 

"  I  am  far  from  regarding  it  as  a  matter  of  course,  Admi 
ral  Bluewater;  but,  it  has  been  done  sufficiently  often,  to 
render  it  an  event  of  no  very  violent  possibility.  Ah,  here 
is  Magrath  to  tell  us  the  condition  of  his  patient." 

The  surgeon  of  the  Plantagenet  entering  the  room,  at 
that  moment,  the  conversation  was  instantly  changed. 

"  Well,  Magrath,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  stopping  suddenly 
in  his  quarter-deck  pace  ;  "  what  news  of  the  poor  man  ?" 

"  He  is  reviving,  Admiral  Oakes,"  returned  the  phlegma 
tic  surgeon  ,•  "  but  it  is  like  the  gleaming  of  sunshine  that 
streams  through  clouds,  as  the  great  luminary  sets  behind 
the  hills—" 

"  Oh  !  hang  your  poetry,  doctor  ;  let  us  have  nothing  but 
plain  matter-of-fact,  this  morning." 

"  Well  then,  Sir  Gervaise,  as  commander-in-chief,  you  '11 
be  obeyed,  I  think.  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  is  suffering 
under  an  attack  of  apoplexy — or  artort^ltj,  as  the  Greeks 
had  it.  The  diagnosis  of  the  disease  is  not  easily  mistaken, 
though  it  has  its  affinities  as  well  as  other  maladies.  The 
applications  for  gout,  or  arthritis — sometimes  produce  apo 
plexy  ;  though  one  disease  is  seated  in  the  head,  while  the 
other  usually  takes  refuge  in  the  feet.  Ye  'II  understand 
this  the  more  readily,  gentlemen,  when  ye  reflect  that  as  a 
thief  is  chased  from  one  hiding-place,  he  commonly  en 
deavours  to  get  into  another.  I  much  misgive  the  prudence 
of  the  phlebotomy  ye  practised  among  ye,  on  the  first  sum 
mons  to  the  patient." 

"  What  the  d — I  does  the  man  mean  by  phlebotomy  ?" 
exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  who  had  an  aversion  to  medicine, 
and  knew  scarcely  any  of  the  commonest  terms  of  practice, 
though  expert  in  bleeding. 

"  I  'm  thinking  it 's  what  you  and  Admiral  Bluewater  so 
freely  administer  to  His  Majesty's  enemies,  whenever  ye  fall 
in  with  'em  at  sea; — he-he-lie — "  answered  Magrath, chuck 
ling  at  his  own  humour  ;  which,  as  the  quantity  was  small, 
was  all  the  better  in  quality. 

"  Surely  he  does  not  mean  powder  and  shot !  We  give 
the  French  shot ,  Sir  Wycherly  has  not  been  shot  7" 


192  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  Varra  true,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  ye  've  let  him  blood, 
amang  ye  :  a  measure  that  has  been  somewhat  preceepitately 
practised,  I  've  my  misgivings  !" 

"  Now,  any  old  woman  can  tell  us  better  than  that,  doc- 
tor.  Blood-letting  is  the  every-day  remedy  for  attacks  of 
this  sort." 

"  I  do  not  dispute  the  dogmas  of  elderly  persons  of  the 
other  sex,  Sir  Gervaise,  or  your  every-day  remedia.  If 
'  every-day'  doctors  would  save  life  and  alleviate  pain, 
diplomas  would  be  unnecessary  ;  and  we  might,  all  of  us, 
practise  on  the  principle  of  the  «  de'el  tak'  the  hindmaist,' 
as  ye  did  yourseP,  Sir  Gervaise,  when  ye  cut  and  slash'd 
amang  the  Dons,  in  boarding  El  Lirio.  I  was  there,  ye  '11 
both  remember,  gentlemen  ;  and  was  obleeged  to  sew  up  the 
gashes  ye  made  with  your  own  irreverent  and  ungodly 
hands." 

This  speech  referred  to  one  of  the  most  desperate,  hand- 
to-hand  struggles,  in  which  the  two  flag-officers  had  ever 
been  engaged  ,•  and,  as  it  afforded  them  the  means  of  exhi 
biting  their  personal  gallantry,  when  quite  young  men,  both 
usually  looked  back  upon  the  exploit  with  great  self-com 
placency  ;  Sir  Gervaise,  in  particular,  his  friend  having 
often  declared  since,  that  they  ought  to  have  been  laid  on 
the  shelf  for  life,  as  a  punishment  for  risking  their  men  in 
so  mad  an  enterprise,  though  it  did  prove  to  be  brilliantly 
successful. 

"  That  was  an  affair  in  which  one  might  engage  at  twenty- 
two,  Magrath,"  observed  Bluewater ;  "  but  which  he  ought 
to  hesitate  about  thinking  of  even,  after  thirty." 

"  I  'd  do  it  again,  this  blessed  day,  if  you  would  give  us 
a  chance  !"  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  striking  the  back  of 
one  hand  into  the  palm  of  the  other,  with  a  sudden  energy, 
that  showed  how  much  he  was  excited  by  the  mere  recollec 
tion  of  the  scene. 

"  That  w'ud  ye ! — that  w'ud  ye  !"  said  Magrath,  growing 
more  and  more  Scotch,  as  he  warmed  in  the  discourse ; 
*'  ye  'd  board  a  mackerel-hoy,  rather  than  not  have  an  en- 

§agement.     Ye  'r  a  varra  capital  vice-admiral  of  the  red, 
ir  Gervaise,  but  I  'm  judging  ye  'd  mak'  a  varra  indeeferent 
loblolly-boy/' 

"  Bluewater,  I  shall  be  compelled  to  change  ships  with 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  193 

you,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  the  old  stand-by's  of  the  Planta- 
genets !  They  stick  to  me  like  leeches ;  and  have  got  to  be 
so  familiar,  that  they  criticise  all  my  orders,  and  don't  more 
than  half  obey  them,  in  the  bargain." 

"  No  one  will  criticise  your  nautical  commands,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise ;  though,  in  the  way  of  the  healing  airt, — science,  it 
should  be  called — ye  're  no  mair  to  be  trusted,  than  one  of 
the  young  gentlemen.  I'm  told  ye  drew  ye'r  lancet  on 
this  poor  gentleman,  as  ye'd  draw  ye'r  sword  on  an 


enemy '" 


I  did,  indeed,  sir ;  though  Mr.  Rotherham  had  rendered 
the  application  of  the  instrument  unnecessary.  Apoplexy 
is  a  rushing  of  the  blood  to  the  head ;  and  by  diminishing 
the  quantity  in  the  veins  of  the  arms  or  temples,  you  lessen 
the  pressure  on  the  brain." 

"  Just  layman's  practice,  sir — just  layman's  practice.  Will 
ye  tell  me  now  if  the  patient's  face  was  red  or  white  1  Every 
thing  depends  on  that;  which  is  the  true  diagnosis  of  the 
malady." 

"  Red,  I  think ;  was  it  not,  Bluewater  1  Red,  like  old 
port,  of  which  I  fancy  the  poor  man  had  more  than  his 
share." 

"  Weel,  in  that  case,  you  were  not  so  varra  wrong ;  but, 
they  tell  me  his  countenance  was  pallid  and  death-like  ;  in 
which  case  ye  came  near  to  committing  murder.  There  is 
one  principle  that  controls  the  diagnosis  of  all  cases  of  apo 
plexy  among  ye'r  true  country  gentlemen — and  that  is,  that 
the  system  is  reduced  and  enfeebled,  by  habitual  (Jevotion  to 
the  decanter.  In  such  attacks  ye  canna'  do  warse,  than  to 
let  blood.  But,  I  '11  no  be  hard  upon  you,  Sir  Gervaise ; 
and  so  we  '11  drop  the  subject — though,  truth  to  say,  I  do 
not  admire  your  poaching  on  my  manor.  Sir  Wycherly  is 
materially  better,  and  expresses,  as  well  as  a  man  who  has 
not  the  use  of  his  tongue,  can  express  a  thing,  his  besetting 
desire  to  make  his  last  will  and  testament.  In  ordinary 
cases  of  apoplexia,  it  is  good  practice  to  oppose  this  craving ; 
though,  as  it  is  my  firm  opinion  that  nothing  can  save  the 
patient's  life,  I  do  not  set  myself  against  the  measure,  in 
this  particular  case.  Thar'  was  a  curious  discussion  at 
Edinbro',  in  my  youth,  gentlemen,  on  the  question  whether 
the  considerations  connected  with  the  disposition  of  the  pro- 
17 


194  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

perty,  or  the  considerations  connected  with  the  patient's 
health,  ought  to  preponderate  in  the  physician's  mind,  when 
it  might  be  reasonably  doubted  whether  the  act  of  making  a 
will,  would  or  would  not  essentially  affect  the  nervous  system, 
and  otherwise  derange  the  functions  of  the  body.  A  very 
pretty  argument,  in  excellent  Edinbro'  Latin,  was  made  on 
each  side  of  the  question.  I  think,  on  the  whole,  the  physicoa 
had  the  best  o'  it ;  for  they  could  show  a  plausible  present 
evil,  as  opposed  to  a  possible  remote  good.'* 

"  Has  Sir  Wycherly  mentioned  my  name  this  morning  V 
asked  the  vice-admiral,  with  interest. 

"  He  has,  indeed,  Sir  Gervaise ;  and  that  in  a  way  so 
manifestly  connected  with  his  will,  that  I  'm  opining  ye  '11 
no  be  forgotten  in  the  legacies.  The  name  of  Bluewater 
was  in  his  mouth,  also." 

"  In  which  case  no  time  should  be  lost ;  for,  never  before 
have  I  felt  half  the  interest  in  the  disposition  of  a  stranger's 
estate.  Hark !  Are  not  those  wheels  rattling  in  the  court 
yard  1" 

"  Ye'r  senses  are  most  pairfect,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  that 
I  've  always  said  was  one  reason  why  ye'r  so  great  an  ad 
miral,"  returned  Magrath.  "  Mind,  only  one,  Sir  Gervaise : 
for  many  qualities  united,  are  necessary  to  make  a  truly 
great  man.  I  see  a  middle-aged  gentleman  alighting,  and 
servants  around  him,  who  wear  the  same  liveries  as  those 
of  this  house.  Some  relative,  no  doubt,  come  to  look  after 
the  legacies,  also." 

"  This  must  be  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe ;  it  may  not 
be  amiss  if  we  go  forward  to  receive  him,  Bluewater." 

At  this  suggestion,  the  rear-admiral  drew  in  his  legs, 
which  had  not  changed  their  position  on  account  of  the  pres 
ence  of  the  surgeon,  arose,  and  followed  Sir  Gervaise,  as 
the  latter  left  the  room. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  195 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

"Videsne  quis  venitr 
"  Video,  et  gaudeo." 

Nathaniel  et  Hdof ernes. 

TOM  WYCHECOMBE  had  experienced  an  uneasiness  that 
it  is  unnecessary  to  explain,  ever  since  he  learned  that  his 
reputed  uncle  had  sent  a  messenger  to  bring  the  "half- 
blood"  to  the  Hall.  From  the  moment  he  got  a  clue  to  the 
fact,  he  took  sufficient  pains  to  ascertain  what  was  in  the 
wind ;  and  when  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  entered  the 
house,  the  first  person  he  met  was  this  spurious  supporter 
of  the  honours  of  his  name. 

"  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  I  presume,  from  the  arms 
and  the  liveries,"  said  Tom,  endeavouring  to  assume  the 
manner  of  a  host.  "  It  is  grateful  to  find  that,  though  we 
are  separated  by  quite  two  centuries,  all  the  usages  and  the 
bearings  of  the  family  are  equally  preserved  and  respected, 
by  both  its  branches." 

"  I  am  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  sir,  and  endeavour 
not  to  forget  the  honourable  ancestry  from  which  I  am 
derived.  May  I  ask  what  kinsman  I  have  the  pleasure  now 
to  meet  ?" 

**  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  sir,  at  your  command  ;  the 
eldest  son  of  Sir  Wycherly's  next  brother,  the  late  Mr. 
Baron  Wychecombe.  I  trust,  Sir  Reginald,  you  have  not 
considered  us  as  so  far  removed  in  blood,  as  to  have  entirely 
overlooked  our  births,  marriages,  and  deaths." 

"  I  have  not,  sir,"  returned  the  baronet,  drily,  and  with 
an  emphasis  that  disturbed  his  listener,  though  the  cold, 
Jesuitical  smile  that  accompanied  the  words,  had  the  effect 
to  calm  his  vivid  apprehensions.  "  All  that  relates  to  the 
house  of  Wychecombe  has  interest  in  my  eyes ;  and  I  have 
endeavoured,  successfully  I  trust,  to  ascertain  all  that  relates 
to  its  births,  marriages,  and  deaths.  I  greatly  regret  that 
the  second  time  I  enter  this  venerable  dwelling,  should  be 
on  uii  occasion  as  melancholy  as  this,  on  which  I  am  now 


196  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

summoned.  How  is  your  respectable  —  how  is  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  Wychecombe,  I  wish  to  say  ?" 

There  was  sufficient  in  this  answer,  taken  in  connexion 
with  the  deliberate,  guarded,  and  yet  expressive  manner  of 
the  speaker,  to  make  Tom  extremely  uncomfortable,  though 
there  was  also  sufficient  to  leave  him  in  doubts  as  to  his 
namesake's  true  meaning.  The  words  emphasized  by  the 
latter,  were  touched  lightly,  though  distinctly  ;  and  the  cold, 
artificial  smile  with  which  they  were  uttered,  completely 
baffled  the  sagacity  of  a  rogue,  as  common-place  as  the 
heir-expectant.  Then  the  sudden  change  in  the  construc 
tion  of  the  last  sentence,  and  the  substitution  of  the  name 
of  the  person  mentioned,  for  the  degree  of  affinity  in  which 
he  was  supposed  to  stand  to  Tom,  might  be  merely  a  rigid 
observance  of  the  best  tone  of  society,  or  it  might  be  equivo 
cal.  All  these  little  distinctions  gleamed  across  the  mind 
of  Tom  Wychecombe ;  but  that  was  not  the  moment  to  pur 
sue  the  investigation.  Courtesy  required  that  he  should 
make  an  immediate  answer,  which  he  succeeded  in  doing 
steadily  enough  as  to  general  appearances,  though  his  saga 
cious  and  practised  questioner  perceived  that  his  words  had 
not  failed  of  producing  the  impression  he  intended  ;  for  he 
had  looked  to  their  establishing  a  species  of  authority  over 
the  young  man. 

"  My  honoured  and  beloved  uncle  has  revived  a  little,  they 
tell  me,"  said  Tom  ;  "  but  I  fear  these  appearances  are  de 
lusive.  After  eighty-four,'  death  has  a  fearful  hold  upon 
us,  sir  !  The  worst  of  it  is,  that  my  poor,  dear  uncle's  mind 
is  sensibly  affected  ;  and  it  is  quite  impossible  to  get  at  any 
of  his  little  wishes,  in  the  way  of  memorials  and  messages — " 

"  How  then,  sir,  came  Sir  Wycherly  to  honour  me  with 
a  request  to  visit  him  ?"  demanded  the  other,  with  an  ex 
tremely  awkward  pertinency. 

"  I  suppose,  sir,  he  has  succeeded  in  muttering  your 
name,  and  that  a  natural  construction  has  been  put  on  its 
use,  at  such  a  moment.  His  will  has  been  made  some  time, 
I  understand  ;  though  I  am  ignorant  of  even  the  name  of 
the  executor,  as  it  is  closed  in  an  envelope,  and  sealed  with 
Sir  Wycherly's  arms.  It  cannot  be,  then,  on  account  of  a 
will,  that  he  has  wished  to  see  you.  I  rather  think,  as  the 
next  of  the  family,  out  of  the  direct  line  of  succession,  he 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  197 

may  have  ventured  to  name  you  as  the  executor  of  the  will 
in  existence,  and  has  thought  it  proper  to  notify  you  of  the 
same." 

"  Yes  sir,"  returned  Sir  Reginald,  in  his  usual  cold,  wary 
manner  ;  "  though  it  would  have  been  more  in  conformity 
with  usage,  had  the  notification  taken  the  form  of  a  request 
to  serve,  previously  to  making  the  testament.  My  letter 
was  signed  '  Gervaise  Oakes,'  and,  as  they  tell  me  a  fleet  is 
in  the  neighbourhood,  I  have  supposed  that  the  celebrated 
admiral  of  that  name,  has  done  me  the  honour  to  write  it." 

"  You  are  not  mistaken,  sir ;  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  is  in  the 
house — ah — here  he  comes  to  receive  you,  accompanied  by 
Rear- Admiral  Blue  water,  whom  the  sailors  call  his  main 
mast." 

The  foregoing  conversation  had  taken  place  in  a  little 
parlour  that  led  off  from  the  great  hall,  whither  Tom  had 
conducted  his  guest,  and  in  which  the  two  admirals  now 
made  their  appearance.  Introductions  were  scarcely  neces 
sary,  the  uniform  and  star — for  in  that  age  officers  usually 
appeared  in  their  robes — the  uniform  and  star  of  Sir  Ger 
vaise  at  once  proclaiming  his  rank  and  name ;  while,  between 
Sir  Reginald  and  Bluewater  there  existed  a  slight  personal 
acquaintance,  which  had  grown  out  of  their  covert,  but  deep, 
Jacobite  sympathies. 

"  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,"  and  "  Sir  Reginald  Wyche- 
combe,"  passed  between  the  gentlemen,  with  a  hearty  shake 
of  the  hand  from  the  admiral,  which  was  met  by  a  cold  touch 
of  the  fingers  on  the  part  of  the  other,  that  might  very  well 
have  passed  for  the  great  model  of  the  sophisticated  mani 
pulation  of  the  modern  salute,  but  which,  in  fact,  was  the 
result  of  temperament  rather  than  of  fashion.  As  soon  as 
this  ceremony  was  gone  through,  and  a  few  brief  expressions 
of  courtesy  were  exchanged,  the  new  comer  turned  to  Blue- 
water,  with  an  air  of  greater  freedom,  and  continued — 

"  And  you,  too,  Sir  Richard  Bluewater  !  I  rejoice  to  meet 
an  acquaintance  in  this  melancholy  scene." 

"  I  am  happy  to  see  you,  Sir  Reginald  ;  though  you  have 
conferred  on  me  a  title  to  which  I  have  no  proper  claim." 

"  No ! — the  papers  tell  us  that  you  have  received  one  of 
the  lately  vacant  red  ribands  ?" 


198  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"I  believe  some  such  honour  has  been  in  contempla 
tion—" 

"  Contemplation ! — I  do  assure  you,  sir,  your  name  is 
fairly  and  distinctly  gazetted — as,  by  sending  to  my  car 
riage,  it  will  be  in  my  power  to  show  you.  I  am,  then,  the 
first  to  call  you,  Sir  Richard." 

"  Excuse  me,  Sir  Reginald — there  is  some  little  misappre 
hension  in  this  matter ;  I  prefer  to  remain  plain  Rear- Ad 
miral  Bluewater.  In  due  season,  all  will  be  explained." 

The  parties  exchanged  looks,  which,  in  times  like  those 
in  which  they  lived,  were  sufficiently  intelligible  to  both ; 
and  the  conversation  was  instantly  changed.  Before  Sir 
Reginald  relinquished  the  hand  he  held,  however,  he  gave 
it  a  cordial  squeeze,  an  intimation  that  was  returned  by  a 
warm  pressure  from  Bluewater.  The  party  then  began  to 
converse  of  Sir  Wycherly,  his  actual  condition,  and  his 
probable  motive  in  desiring  to  see  his  distant  kinsman.  This 
motive,  Sir  Gervaise,  regardless  of  the  presence  of  Tom 
Wychecombe,  declared  to  be  a  wish  to  make  a  will ;  and, 
as  he  believed,  the  intention  of  naming  Sir  Reginald  his 
executor,  if  not  in  some  still  more  interesting  capacity. 

"  I  understand  Sir  Wycherly  has  a  considerable  sum  en 
tirely  at  his  own  disposal,"  continued  the  vice-admiral ; 
"  and  I  confess  I  like  to  see  a  man  remember  his  friends 
and  servants,  generously,  in  his  last  moments.  The  estate 
is  entailed,  I  hear ;  and  I  suppose  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe 
here,  will  be  none  the  worse  for  that  precaution  in  his  an 
cestor;  let  the  old  gentleman  do  as  he  pleases  with  his 
savings." 

Sir  Gervaise  was  so  much  accustomed  to  command,  that 
he  did  not  feel  the  singularity  of  his  own  interference  in  the 
affairs  of  a  family  of  what  might  be  called  strangers,  though 
the  circumstance  struck  Sir  Reginald,  as  a  little  odd. 
Nevertheless,  the  last  had  sufficient  penetration  to  under 
stand  the  vice-admiral's  character  at  a  glance,  and  the  pecu 
liarity  made  no  lasting  impression.  When  the  allusion  was 
made  to  Tom's  succession,  as  a  matter  of  coarse,  however, 
he  cast  a  cold,  but  withering  look,  at  the  reputed  heir,  which 
almost  chilled  the  marrow  in  the  bones  of  the  jealous  rogue. 

"  Might  I  say  a  word  to  you,  in  your  own  room,  Sir  Ger 
vaise  ?"  asked  Sir  Reginald,  in  an  aside.  "  These  matters 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  199 

ought  not  to  be  indecently  hurried ;  and  I  wish  to  under- 
stand  the  ground  better,  before  I  advance." 

This  question  was  overheard  by  Blue  water ;  who,  begging 
the  gentlemen  to  remain  where  they  were,  withdrew  him 
self,  taking  Tom  Wychecombe  with  him.  As  soon  as  they 
were  alone,  Sir  Reginald  drew  from  his  companion,  by 
questions  warily  but  ingeniously  put,  a  history  of  all  that 
had  occurred  within  the  last  twenty-four  hours  ;  a  know 
ledge  of  the  really  helpless  state  of  Sir  Wycherly,  and  of 
the  manner  in  which  he  himself  had  been  summoned,  in 
cluded.  When  satisfied,  he  expressed  a  desire  to  see  the 
sick  man. 

"  By  the  way,  Sir  Reginald,"  said  the  vice-admiral,  with 
his  hand  on  the  lock  of  the  door,  arresting  his  own  move 
ment  to  put  the  question  ;  "  I  see,  by  your  manner  of  ex 
pressing  yourself,  that  the  law  has  not  been  entirely  over- 
looked  in  your  education.  Do  you  happen  to  know  what 
*  half-blood'  means  1  it  is  either  a  medical  or  a  legal  term, 
and  I  understand  few  but  nautical." 

"  You  could  not  apply  to  any  man  in  England,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  better  qualified  to  tell  you,"  answered  the  Hertford 
shire  baronet,  smiling  expressively.  "  I  am  a  barrister  of 
the  Middle  Temple,  having  been  educated  as  a  younger  son, 
and  having  since  succeeded  an  elder  brother,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-seven ;  and,  I  stand  in  the  unfortunate  relation  of 
the  *  half-blood'  myself,  to  this  very  estate,  on  which  we  are 
now  conversing." 

Sir  Reginald  then  proceeded  to  explain  the  law  to  the 
other,  as  we  have  already  pointed  it  out  to  the  reader ;  per 
forming  the  duty  succinctly,  but  quite  clearly. 

"  Bless  me  ! — bless  me !  Sir  Reginald,"  exclaimed  the 
direct-minded  and  just-minded  sailor — "  here  must  be  some 
mistake  !  A  fortieth  cousin,  or  the  king,  take  this  estate  be- 
fore  yourself,  though  you  are  directly  descended  from  all 
the  old  Wychecombes  of  the  times  of  the  Plantagenets  !" 

"  Such  is  the  common  law,  Sir  Gervaise.  Were  I  Sii 
Wycherly's  half-brother,  or  a  son  by  a  second  wife  of  our 
common  father,  I  could  not  take  from  7/im,  although  that 
common  father  had  earned  the  estate  by  his  own  hands,  or 
services." 

"  This  is  damnable,  sir — damnable — and  you  'II  pardon 


200  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

me,  but  I  can  hardly  believe  we  have  such  a  monstrous 
principle  in  the  good,  honest,  well-meaning  laws,  of  good, 
honest,  well-meaning  old  England  !" 

Sir  Reginald  was  one  of  the  few  lawyers  of  his  time,  who 
did  not  recognize  the  virtue  of  this  particular  piovision  of 
the  common  law ;  a  circumstance  that  probably  arose  from 
his  having  so  small  an  interest  now  in  the  mysteries  of  the 
profession,  and  so  large  an  interest  in  the  family  estate  of 
Wychecombe,  destroyed  by  its  dictum.  He  was,  conse 
quently,  less  surprised,  and  not  at  all  hurt,  at  the  evident 
manner  in  which  the  sailor  repudiated  his  statement,  as  doing 
violence  equally  to  reason,  justice,  and  probability. 

"  Good,  honest,  well-meaning  old  England  tolerates  many 
grievous  things,  notwithstanding,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  an 
swered  ;  "  among-  others,  it  tolerates  the  law  of  the  half- 
blood.  Much  depends  on  the  manner  in  which  men  view 
these  things  ;  that  which  seems  gold  to  one,  resembling  silver 
in  the  eyes  of  another.  Now,  I  dare  say," — this  was  said 
as  a  feeler,  and  with  a  smile  that  might  pass  for  ironical 
or  confiding,  as  the  listener  pleased  to  take  it — "  Now,  I 
dare  say,  the  clans  would  tell  us  that  England  tolerates  an 
usurper,  while  her  lawful  prince  was  in  banishment ;  though 
you  and  /  might  not  feel  disposed  to  allow  it."1 

Sir  Gervaise  started,  and  cast  a  quick,  suspicious  glance 
at  the  speaker ;  but  there  the  latter  stood,  with  as  open  and 
guileless  an  expression  on  his  handsome  features,  as  was 
ever  seen  in  the  countenance  of  confiding  sixteen. 

"  Your  supposititious  case  is  no  parallel,"  returned  the  vice- 
admiral,  losing  every  shade  of  suspicion,  at  this  appearance 
of  careless  frankness  ;  "  since  men  often  follow  their  feel 
ings  in  their  allegiance,  while  the  law  is  supposed  to  be 
governed  by  reason  and  justice.  But,  now  we  are  on  the 
subject,  will  you  tell  me,  Sir  Reginald,  if  you  also  know 
what  a  nullus  is  ?' 

"  I  have  no  farther  knowledge  of  the  subject,  Sir  Ger 
vaise,"  returned  the  other,  smiling,  this  time,  quite  natu 
rally  ;  "  than  is  to  be  found  i»  the  Latin  dictionaries  and 
grammars." 

"  Ay — you  mean  nullus,  nulla,  Tvullum.  Even  we  sailors 
know  that;  as  we  all  go  to  school  before  we  go  to  sea. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  201 

But,  Sir  Wycherly,  in  efforts  to  make  himself  understood, 
called  you  a  '  half-blood.' " 

"  And  quite  correctly — I  admit  such  to  be  the  fact ;  and 
that  I  have  no  more  legal  claim,  whatever,  on  this  estate, 
than  you  have  yourself.  My  moral  right,  however,  may  be 
somewhat  better." 

"  It  is  much  to  your  credit,  that  you  so  frankly  admit  it, 
Sir  Reginald  ;  for,  hang  me,  if  I  think  even  the  judges  would 
dream  of  raising  such  an  objection  to  your  succeeding,  unless 
reminded  of  it." 

"  Therein  you  do  them  injustice,  Sir  Gervaise ;  as  it  is 
their  duty  to  administer  the  laws,  let  them  be  what  they 
may." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,  sir.  But  the  reason  for  my 
asking  what  a  nullus  is,  was  the  circumstance  that  Sir  Wy 
cherly,  in  the  course  of  his  efforts  to  speak,  repeatedly  called 
his  nephew  and  heir,  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  by  that 
epithet." 

"  Did  he,  indeed  ? — Was  the  epithet,  as  you  well  term  it, 
flius  nullius  ?" 

"  I  rather  think  it  was  nullus — though  I  do  believe  the 
Mvordjilius  was  muttered,  once  or  twice,  also." 

"  Yes  sir,  this  has  been  the  case ;  and  I  am  not  sorry 
Sir  Wycherly  is  aware  of  the  fact,  as  I  hear  that  the  young 
man  affects  to  consider  himself  in  a  different  point  of  view. 
A  jilius  nullius  is  the  legal  term  for  a  bastard — the  '  son 
of  nobody,'  as  you  will  at  once  understand.  I  am  fully 
aware  that  such  is  the  unfortunate  predicament  of  Mr.  Tho 
mas  Wychecombe,  whose  father,  I  possess  complete  evidence 
to  show,  was  never  married  to  his  mother." 

"  And  yet,  Sir  Reginald,  the  impudent  rascal  carries  in 
his  pocket  even,  a  certificate,  signed  by  some  parish  priest 
in  London,  to  prove  the  contrary." 

The  civil  baronet  seemed  surprised  at  this  assertion  of 
his  military  brother ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  explaining  what  had 
passed  between  himself  and  the  young  man,  he  could  no 
longer  entertain  any  doubt  of  the  fact. 

"  Since  you  have  seen  the  document,"  resumed  Sir  Regi 
nald,  "  it  must,  indeed,  be  so ;  and  this  misguided  boy  is 
prepared  to  take  any  desperate  step  in  order  to  obtain  the 
title  and  the  estate.  All  that  he  has  said^about  a  will  must 


202  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

be  fabulous,  as  no  man  in  his  senses  would  risk  his  neck  to 
obtain  so  hollow  a  distinction  as  a  baronetcy — we  are  equally 
members  of  the  class,  and  may  speak  frankly,  Sir  Gervaise 
— and  the  will  would  secure  the  estate,  if  there  were  one. 
I  cannot  think,  therefore,  that  there  is  a  will  at  all." 

"  If  this  will  were  not  altogether  to  the  fellow's  liking, 
would  not  the  marriage,  beside  the  hollow  honour  of  which 
you  have  spoken,  put  the  whole  of  the  landed  property  in 
his  possession,  under  the  entail  ?" 

"  It  would,  indeed ;  and  I  thank  you  for  the  suggestion. 
If,  however,  Sir  Wycherly  is  desirous,  now,  of  making  a 
new  will,  and  has  strength  and  mind  sufficient  to  execute 
his  purpose,  the  old  one  need  give  us  no  concern.  This  is 
a  most  delicate  affair  for  one  in  my  situation  to  engage  in, 
sir  ;  and  I  greatly  rejoice  that  I  find  such  honourable  and 
distinguished  witnesses,  in  the  house,  to  clear  my  reputa 
tion,  should  anything  occur  to  require  such  exculpation. 
On  the  one  side,  Sir  Gervaise,  there  is  the  danger  of  an 
ancient  estate's  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  crown,  and  this, 
too,  while  one  of  no  stain  of  blood,  derived  from  the  same 
honourable  ancestors  as  the  last  possessor,  is  in  existence ; 
or,  on  the  other,  of  its  becoming  the  prey  of  one  of  base 
blood,  and  of  but  very  doubtful  character.  The  circum 
stance  that  Sir  Wycherly  desired  my  presence,  is  a  great 
deal ;  and  I  trust  to  you,  and  to  those  with  you,  to  vindicate 
the  fairness  of  my  course.  If  it 's  your  pleasure,  sir,  wo 
will  now  go  to  the  sick  chamber." 

"  With  all  my  heart.  I  think,  however,  Sir  Reginald," 
said  the  vice-admiral,  as  he  approached  the  door ;  "  that 
even  in  the  event  of  an  escheat,  you  would  find  these  Bruns 
wick  princes  sufficiently  liberal  to  restore  the  property.  I 
could  not  answer  for  those  wandering  Scotchmen ;  who 
have  so  many  breechless  nobles  to  enrich ;  but,  I  think, 
with  the  Hanoverians,  you  would  be  safe." 

"  The  last  have  certainly  one  recommendation  the  most," 
returned  the  other,  smiling  courteously,  but  in  a  way  so 
equivocal  that  even  Sir  Gervaise  was  momentarily  struck 
by  it  ;  "  they  have  fed  so  well,  now,  at  the  crib,  that  they 
may  not  have  the  same  voracity,  as  those  who  have  been 
long  fasting.  It  would  be,  however,  more  pleasant  to  take  these 
lands  from  a  Wy^hecombe — a  Wychecombe  to  a  Wyche- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  203 

combe — than  to  receive  them  anew  from  even  the  Planta- 
genet  who  made  the  first  grant." 

This  terminated  the  private  dialogue,  as  the  colloquists 
entered  the  hall,  just  as  the  last  speaker  concluded.  Wy- 
cherly  was  conversing,  earnestly,  with  Mrs.  Dutton  and 
Mildred,  at  the  far  end  of  the  hall,  when  the  baronets  ap 
peared  ;  but,  catching  the  eye  of  the  admiral,  he  said  a  few 
words  hastily  to  his  companions,  and  joined  the  two  gentle 
men,  who  were  now  on  their  way  to  the  sick  man's  chamber. 

"  Here  is  a  namesake,  if  not  a  relative,  Sir  Reginald," 
observed  Sir  Gervaise,  introducing  the  lieutenant ;  "  and 
one,  I  rejoice  to  say,  of  whom  all  of  even  your  honourable 
name  have  reason  to  be  proud." 

Sir  Reginald's  bow  was  courteous  and  bland,  as  the  ad 
miral  proceeded  to  complete  the  introduction  ;  but  Wycherly 
felt  that  the  keen,  searching  look  he  bestowed  on  himself 
was  disagreeable. 

"  I  am  not  at  all  aware,  that  I  have  the  smallest  claim  to 
the  honour  of  being  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe's  relative," 
he  said,  with  cold  reserve,  "  Indeed,  until  last  evening,  I 
was  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  the  Hertfordshire  branch 
of  this  family ;  and  you  will  remember,  Sir  Gervaise,  that 
I  am  a  Virginian." 

"  A  Virginian  !"  exclaimed  his  namesake,  taken  so  much 
by  surprise  as  to  lose  a  little  of  his  self-command.  "  I  did 
not  know,  indeed,  that  any  who  bear  the  name  had  found 
their  way  to  the  colonies." 

"  And  if  they  had,  sir,  they  would  have  met  with  a  set 
of  fellows  every  way  fit  to  be  their  associates,  Sir  Reginald. 
We  English  are  a  little  clannish — I  hate  the  word,  too  ;  it 
has  such  a  narrow  Scotch  sound— but  we  are  clannish,  al 
though  generally  provided  with  garments  to  our  nether 
limbs  ;  and  we  sometimes  look  down  upon  even  a  son,  whom 
the  love  of  adventure  has  led  into  that  part  of  the  world. 
In  my  view,  an  Englishman  is  an  Englishman,  let  him  come 
from  what  part  of  the  empire  he  may.  That  is  what  I  call 
genuine  liberality,  Sir  Reginald." 

"  Quite  true,  Sir  Gervaise ;  and  a  Scotchman  is  a  Scotch 
man,  even  though  he  come  from  the  north  of  Tweed." 

This  was  quietly  said,  but  the  vice-admiral  felt  the  merited 
rebuke  it  contained,  and  he  had  the  good-nature  and  the 


204  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS, 

good  sense  to  laugh  at  it,  and  to  admit  his  own  prejudices 
This  little  encounter  brought  the  party  to  Sir  Wyeherly's 
door,  where  all  three  remained  until  it  was  ascertained  that 
they  might  enter. 

The  next  quarter  of  an  hour  brought  about  a  great  change 
in  the  situation  of  all  the  principal  inmates  of  Wychecombe 
Hall.  The  interdict  was  taken  off  the  rooms  of  Sir  Wy- 
cherly,  and  in  them  had  collected  all  the  gentlemen,  Mrs. 
Dutton  and  her  daughter,  with  three  or  four  of  the  upper 
servants  of  the  establishment.  Even  Galleygo  had  contrived 
to  thrust  his  ungainly  person  in,  among  the  rest,  though  he 
had  the  discretion  to  keep  in  the  background,  among  his 
fellows.  In  a  word,  both  dressing-room  and  bed-room  had 
their  occupants,  though  the  last  was  principally  filled  by  tho 
medical  men,  and  those  whose  rank  gave  them  claims  to  be 
near  the  person  of  the  sick. 

It  was  now  past  a  question  known  that  poor  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  was  on  his  death-bed.  His  mind  had  sensibly  im 
proved,  nor  was  his  speech  any  worse  ;  but  his  physical  sys 
tem  generally  had  received  a  shock  that  rendered  recovery 
hopeless.  It  was  the  opinion  of  the  physicians  that  he  might 
possibly  survive  several  days  ;  or,  that  he  might  be  carried 
off,  in  a  moment,  by  a  return  of  the  paralytic  affection. 

The  baronet,  himself,  appeared  to  be  perfectly  conscious 
of  his  situation ;  as  was  apparent  by  the  anxiety  he  ex 
pressed  to  get  his  friends  together,  and  more  especially  the 
concern  he  felt  to  make  a  due  disposition  of  his  worldly 
affairs.  The  medical  men  had  long  resisted  both  wishes, 
until,  convinced  that  the  question  was  reduced  to  one  of  a 
few  hours  more  or  less  of  life,  and  that  denial  was  likely  to 
produce  worse  effects  than  compliance,  they  finally  and 
unanimously  consented. 

"  It 's  no  a  great  concession  to  mortal  infirmity  to  let  a 
dying  man  have  his  way,"  whispered  Magrath  to  the  two 
admirals,  as  the  latter  entered  the  room.  "  Sir  "Virychcrly 
is  a  hopeless  case,  and  we  '11  just  consent  to  let  him  *nake  a 
few  codicils,  seeing  that  he  so  fairvently  desires  it ,  *  .id  then 
there  may  be  fewer  hopeless  deevils  left  behind  ^<»,  when 
he 's  gathered  to  his  forefathers." 

"  Here  we  are,  my  dear  Sir  Wycherly,"  said  »/ie  vice- 
admiral,  who  never  lost  an  occasion  to  effect  hi«  purpose, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  205 

by  any  unnecessary  delay ;  "  here  we  all  are  anxious  to 
comply  with  your  wishes.  Your  kinsman,  Sir  Reginald 
Wychecombe,  is  also  present,  and  desirous  of  doing  your 
pleasure." 

It  was  a  painful  sight  to  see  a  man  on  his  death-bed,  so 
anxious  to  discharge  the  forms  of  the  world,  as  the  master 
of  the  Hall  now  appeared  to  be.  There  had  been  an  unne 
cessary  alienation  between  the  heads  of  the  two  branches 
of  the  family  ;  not  arising  from  any  quarrel,  or  positive 
cause  of  disagreement,  but  from  a  silent  conviction  in  both 
parties,  that  each  was  unsuited  to  the  other.  They  had  met 
a  few  times,  and  always  parted  without  regret.  The  case 
was  now  different;  the  separation  was,  in  one  sense  at 
least,  to  be  eternal ;  and  all  minor  considerations,  all  caprices 
of  habits  or  despotism  of  tastes,  faded  before  the  solemn  im 
pressions  of  the  moment.  Still,  Sir  Wycherly  could  not 
forget  that  he  was  master  of  Wychecombe,  and  that  his 
namesake  was  esteemed  a  man  of  refinement ;  and,  in  his 
simple  way  of  thinking  he  would  fain  have  arisen,  in  order 
to  do  him  honour.  A  little  gentle  violence,  even,  was  ne 
cessary  to  keep  the  patient  quiet. 

"Much  honoured,  sir  —  greatly  pleased,"  muttered  Sir 
Wycherly,  the  words  coming  from  him  with  difficulty. 
"  Same  ancestors — same  name — Plantagenets — old  house, 
sir — head  go,  new  one  come — none  better,  than — " 

"  Do  not  distress  yourself  to  speak,  unnecessarily,  my 
dear  sir,"  interrupted  Sir  Reginald,  with  more  tenderness 
for  the  patient  than  consideration  for  his  own  interest,  as 
the  next  words  promised  to  relate  to  the  succession.  "  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes  tells  me,  he  understands  your  wishes,  gene 
rally,  and  that  he  is  now  prepared  to  gratify  them.  First 
relieve  your  mind,  in  matters  of  business  ;  and,  then,  I  shall 
be  most  happy  to  exchange  with  you  the  feelings  of  kindred." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Wycherly,"  put  in  Sir  Gervaise,  on  this  hint ; 
"  I  believe  I  have  now  found  the  clue  to  all  you  wish  to  say. 
The  few  words  written  by  you,  last  night,  were  the  com 
mencement  of  a  will,  which  it  is  your  strong  desire  to  make. 
Do  not  speak,  but  raise  your  right  hand,  if  I  am  not  mis 
taken." 

The  sick  man  actually  stretched  his  right  arm  above  the 
bed-clothes,  and  his  dull  eyes  lighted  with  an  expression  of 
18 


206  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

pleasure,  that  proved  how  strongly  his  feelings  were  enlisted 
in  the  result. 

"  You  see,  gentlemen  !"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  with  emphasis. 
"  No  one  can  mistake  the  meaning  of  this  !  Come  nearer- 
doctor — Mr.  Rotherham — all  who  have  no  probable  interesl 
in  the  affair — I  wish  it  to  be  seen  that  Sir  Wycherly  Wyche, 
combe  is  desirous  of  making  his  will." 

The  vice-admiral  now  went  through  the  ceremony  of  re 
peating  his  request,  and  got  the  same  significant  answer. 

"  So  I  understood  it,  Sir  Wycherly,  and  I  believe  now  I 
also  understand  all  about  the  *  half,'  and  the  *  whole,'  and 
the  *  nullusS  You  meant  tb  tell  us  that  your  kinsman,  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe,  was  of  the  *  half-blood'  as  respects 
yourself,  and  that  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  your  nephew, 
is  what  is  termed  in  law — however  painful  this  may  be,  gen 
tlemen,  at  such  solemn  moments  the  truth  must  be  plainly 
spoken — that  Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe  is  what  the  law 
terms  a  'Jilius  nullius?  If  we  have  understood  you  in  this, 
also,  have  the  goodness  to  give  this  company  the  same  sign 
of  assent." 

The  last  words  were  scarcely  spoken,  before  Sir  Wy 
cherly  again  raised  his  arm,  and  nodded  his  head. 

"  Here  there  can  be  no  mistake,  and  no  one  rejoices  in  it 
more  than  I  do  myself;  for,  the  unintelligible  words  gavt 
me  a  great  deal  of  vexation.  Well,  my  dear  sir,  under 
standing  your  wishes,  my  secretary,  Mr.  Atwood,  has  drawn 
the  commencement  of  a  will,  in  the  usual  form,  using  your 
own  pious  and  proper  language  of — '  In  the  name  of  God, 
Amen,'  as  the  commencement ;  and  he  stands  ready  to  write 
down  your  bequests,  as  you  may  see  fit  to  name  them.  We 
will  take  them,  first,  on  a  separate  piece  of  paper  ;  then  read 
them  to  you,  for  your  approbation  ;  and  afterwards,  tran 
scribe  them  into  the  will.  I  believe,  Sir  Reginald,  that  mode 
would  withstand  the  subtleties  of  all  the  gentlemen  of  all  the 
Inns  of  Court?" 

"  It  is  a  very  proper  and  prudent  mode  for  executing  a 
will,  sir,  under  the  peculiar  circumstances,"  returned  he  of 
Hertfordshire.  "  But,  Sir  Gervaise,  my  situation,  here,  is 
a  little  delicate,  as  may  be  that  of  Mr.  Thomas  Wycheeombe 
— and  others  of  the  name  and  family,  if  any  such  there  be. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  207 

Would  it  not  be  well  to  inquire  if  our  presence  is  actually 
desired  by  the  intended  testator  1" 

"  Is  it  your  wish,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  your  kinsmen  and 
namesakes  remain  in  the  room,  or  shall  they  retire  until  the 
will  is  executed  1  I  will  call  over  the  names  of  the  company, 
and  when  you  wish  any  one,  in  particular,  to  stay  in  the 
room,  you  will  nod  your  head." 

«  All — all  stay,"  muttered  Sir  Wycherly  ;  "  Sir  Reginald 
—Tom— Wycherly— all— " 

"  This  seems  explicit  enough,  gentlemen,"  resumed  the 
vice-admiral.  "  You  are  all  requested  to  stay  ;  and,  if  I 
might  venture  an  opinion,  our  poor  friend  has  named  those 
on  whom  he  intends  his  bequests  to  fall — and  pretty  much, 
too,  in  the  order  in  which  they  will  come." 

"  That  will  appear  more  unanswerably  when  Sir  Wy 
cherly  has  expressed  his  intentions  in  words,"  observed  Sir 
Reginald,  very  desirous  that  there  should  not  be  the  smallest 
appearance  of  dictation  or  persuasion  offered  to  his  kinsman, 
at  a  moment  so  grave.  "  Let  me  entreat  that  no  leading 
questions  be  put." 

"  Sir  Gervaise  understands  leading  in  battle,  much  better 
than  in  a  cross-examination,  Sir  Reginald,"  Bluewater  ob 
served,  in  a  tone  so  low,  that  none  heard  him  but  the  person 
to  whom  the  words  were  addressed.  "  I  think  we  shall 
sooner  get  at  Sir  Wycherly's  wishes,  by  allowing  him  to 
take  his  own  course." 

The  other  bowed,  and  appeared  disposed  to  acquiesce. 
In  the  mean  time  preparations  were  making  for  the  con 
struction  of  the  will.  Atwood  seated  himself  at  a  table  near 
the  bed,  and  commenced  nibbing  his  pens  ;  the  medical  men 
administered  a  cordial ;  Sir  Gervaise  caused  all  the  witnesses 
to  range  themselves  around  the  room,  in  a  way  that  each 
might  fairly  see,  and  be  seen ;  taking  care,  however,  so  to 
dispose  of  Wycherly,  as  to  leave  no  doubt  of  his  handsome 
person's  coming  into  the  sick  man's  view.  The  lieutenant's 
modesty  might  have  rebelled  at  this  arrangement,  had  ho 
not  found  himself  immediately  at  the  side  of  Mildred. 


208  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

**  Yet,  all  is  o'er  ! — fear,  doubt,  suspense,  are  fled, 
Let  brighter  thoughts  be  with  the  virtuous  dead ! 
The  final  ordeal  of  the  soul  is  past, 
And  the  pale  brow  is  sealed  to  Heaven  at  last" 

MRS.  HEMAN*. 

IT  will  be  easily  supposed  that  Tom  Wychecombe  wit 
nessed  the  proceedings  related  in  the  preceding  chapter  with 
dismay.  The  circumstance  that  he  actually  possessed  a 
bond  Jide  will  of  his  uncle,  which  left  him  heir  of  all  the 
latter  owned,  real  or  personal,  had  made  him  audacious, 
and  first  induced  him  to  take  the  bold  stand  of  asserting  his 
legitimacy,  and  of  claiming  all  its  consequences.  He  had 
fully  determined  to  assume  the  title  on  the  demise  of  Sir 
Wycherly  ;  plausibly  enough  supposing  that,  as  there  was 
no  heir  to  the  baronetcy,  the  lands  once  in  his  quiet  pos 
session,  no  one  would  take  sufficient  interest  in  the  matter 
to  dispute  his  right  to  the  rank.  Here,  however,  was  a  blow 
that  menaced  death  to  all  his  hopes.  His  illegitimacy 
seemed  to  be  known  to  others,  and  there  was  every  prospect 
of  a  new  will's  supplanting  the  old  one,  in  its  more  important 
provisions,  at  least.  He  was  at  a  loss  to  imagine  what  had 
made  this  sudden  change  in  his  uncle's  intentions ;  for  he 
did  not  sufficiently  understand  himself,  to  perceive  that  the 
few  months  of  close  communion  which  had  succeeded  tho 
death  of  his  reputed  father,  had  sufficed  to  enlighten  Sir 
Wycherly  on  the  subject  of  his  own  true  character,  and  to 
awaken  a  disgust  that  had  remained  passive,  until  suddenly 
aroused  by  the  necessity  of  acting ;  and,  least  of  all,  could 
he  understand  how  surprisingly  the  moral  vision  of  men 
is  purified  and  enlarged,  as  respects  both  the  past  and  the 
future,  by  the  near  approach  of  death.  Although  symptoms 
of  strong  dissatisfaction  escaped  him,  he  quieted  his  feelings 
as  much  as  possible,  cautiously  waiting  for  any  occurrence 
that  might  be  used  in  setting  aside  the  contemplated  instru 
ment,  hereafter ;  or,  what  would  be  still  better,  to  defeat  ita 
execution,  now. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  209 

As  soon  as  the  necessary  preparations  were  made,  At- 
wood,  his  pen  nibbed,  ink  at  hand,  and  paper  spread,  was 
ready  to  proceed :  and  a  breathless  stillness  existed  in  the 
chamber,  Sir  Gervaise  resumed  the  subject  on  which  they 
were  convened. 

"  At  wood  will  read  to  you  what  he  has  already  written. 
Sir  Wycherly,"  he  said  ;  "  should  the  phraseology  be  agree 
able  to  you,  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  make  a  sign  to 
that  effect.  Well,  if  all  is  ready,  you  can  now  commence — 
hey!  Atwood  ?" 

** '  In  the  name  of  God,  Amen ;' "  commenced  the  methodi 
cal  secretary ;  "  '  I,  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  Bart,  of  Wyche- 
combe-Hall,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  being  of  sound  mind, 
but  of  a  feeble  state  of  health,  and  having  the  view  of  death 
before  my  eyes,  revoking  all  other  wills,  codicils  or  testa 
mentary  devises,  whatsoever,  do  make  and  declare  this  in 
strument  to  be  my  last  will  and  testament :  that  is  to  say, 

Imprimis,!  do  hereby  constitute  and  appoint 

of ,  the  executor    of  this  my  said  will,  with  all  the 

powers  and  authority  that  the  law  gives,  or  may  hereafter 
give  to  said  executor  .  Secondly,  I  give  and  bequeath  to — ' 
This  is  all  that  is  yet  written,  Sir  Gervaise,  blanks  being 
left  for  the  name  or  names  of  the  executor  or  executors,  as 
well  as  for  the  '  s'  at  the  end  of  *  executor,7  should  the  testa 
tor  see  fit  to  name  more  than  one." 

"  There,  Sir  Reginald,"  said  the  vice-admiral,  not  alto 
gether  without  exultation ;  "  this  is  the  way  we  prepare 
these  things  on  board  a  man-of-war !  A  flag-officer's  secretary 
needs  have  himself  qualified  to  do  anything,  short  of  a  know 
ledge  of  administering  to  the  cure  of  souls !" 

"  And  the  cure  of  bodies,  ye  '11  be  permitting  me  to  add, 
Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  Magrath,  taking  an  enormous  pinch 
of  a  strong  yellow  snuff. 

"  Our  secretary  would  make  but  a  lubberly  fist  at  turning 
off  a  delicate  turtle-soup  out  of  pig's-head  ;  such  as  we  puts 
on  our  table  at  sea,  so  often,"  muttered  Galleygo  in  the  ear 
of  Mrs.  Larder. 

"  I  see  nothing  to  object  to,  Sir  Gervaise,  if  the  language 
is  agreeable  to  Sir  Wycherly,"  answered  the  barrister  by 
profession,  though  not  by  practice.   "  It  would  be  advisable 
to  get  his  approbation  of  even  the  language." 
18* 


210  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  That  we  intend  to  do,  of  course,  sir.  Sir  Wycherly,  do 
you  find  the  terms  of  this  will  to  your  liking]" 

Sir  Wycherly  smiled,  and  very  clearly  gave  the  sign  of 
assent. 

"  1  thought  as  much — for,  Atwood  has  made  the  wills  of 
two  admirals,  and  of  three  captains,  to  my  knowledge  ;  and 
my  lord  Chief  Justice  said  that  one  of  the  last  would  have 
done  credit  to  the  best  conveyancer  in  England,  and  that  it 
was  a  pity  the  testator  had  nothing  to  bequeath.  Now,  Sir 
Wycherly,  will  you  have  one  executor,  or  more  ?  if  one, 
hold  up  a  single  finger ;  and  a  finger  for  each  additional 
executor  you  wish  us  to  insert  in  these  blanks.  One,  At 
wood — you  perceive,  gentlemen,  that  Sir  Wycherly  raises 
but  one  finger ;  and  so  you  can  give  a  flourish  at  the  end 
of  the  *  r,'  as  the  word  will  be  in  the  singular  ; — hey  !  At 
wood  ?" 

The  secretary  did  as  directed,  and  then  reported  himself 
ready  to  proceed. 

"  It  will  now  be  necessary  for  you  to  name  your  executor, 
Sir  Wycherly — make  as  little  effort  as  possible,  as  we  shall 
understand  the  name,  alone." 

Sir  Wycherly  succeeded  in  uttering  the  name  of  "  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe,"  quite  audibly. 

"  This  is  plain  enough,"  resumed  the  vice-admiral ;  "  how 
does  the  sentence  read  now,  Atwood  ?" 

"'Imprimis: — I  do  hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  in  the  county 
of  Herts,  Baronet,  the  executor  of  this  my  said  will,  &c.'  " 

"  If  that  clause  is  to  your  liking,  Sir  Wycherly,  have  the 
goodness  to  give  the  sign  agreed  on." 

The  sick  man  smiled,  nodded  his  haad,  raised  his  hand 
and  looked  anxiously  at  his  kinsman. 

"  I  consent  to  serve,  Sir  Wycherly,  if  such  is  your  desire," 
observed  the  nominee,  who  detected  the  meaning  of  his 
kinsman's  look. 

"  And  now,  sir,"  continued  the  vice-admiral ;  "  it  is  ne- 
cessary  to  ask  you  a  few  questions,  in  order  that  Atwood 
may  know  what  next  to  write.  Is  it  your  desire  to  bequeath 
any  real  estate  ?"  Sir  Wycherly  assented.  "  Do  you  wish 
to  bequeath  all  your  real  estate  ?"  The  same  sign  of  assent 
was  given.  "  Do  you  wish  to  bequeath  all  to  one  person  ?" 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  211 

The  sign  of  assent  was  given  to  this  also.  "  This  makes 
plain  sailing,  and  a  short  run, — hey !  Atwood  ?" 

The  secretary  wrote  as  fast  as  possible,  and  in  two  or 
three  minutes  he  read  aloud,  as  follows' — 

"  '  Secondly,  I  make  and  declare  the  following  bequests  or 

devises — that  is  to  say,  I  give  and  bequeath  to 

of ,  all  the  real  estate  of  which  I  may  die  seised, 

together  with  all  the  houses,  tenements,  hereditaments,  and 
appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  and  all  my  rights  to  the 
same,  whether  in  law  or  equity,  to  be  possessed  and  enjoyed 

by  the  said of —  in  fee,  by  

heirs,  executors,  administrators,  or  assigns,  for  ever.'  There 
are  blanks  for  the  name  and  description,  as  well  as  for  the 
sex  of  the  devisee,"  added  the  secretary. 

"  All  very  proper  and  legal,  I  believe,  Sir  Reginald  ?— I 
am  glad  you  think  so,  sir.  Now,  Sir  Wycherly,  we  wait 
for  the  name  of  the  lucky  person  you  mean  thus  to  favour." 

"  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,"  the  sick  man  uttered,  pain 
fully  ;  "half-blood — no  nullus.  Sir  Michael's  heir — my 
heir." 

"  This  is  plain  English  !"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  in  the  way 
of  a  man  who  is  not  displeased  ;  "  put  in  the  name  of  *  Sir 
Reginald  Wychecombe  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  Herts,'  At 
wood — ay — that  just  fills  the  blank  handsomely — you  want 
4  his  heirs,  executors,  &c.'  in  the  other  blank." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Sir  Gervaise ;  it  should  read  *  by 
himself,  his  heirs,  &c.'  " 

"  Very  true — very  true,  Atwood,  Now  read  it  slowly, 
and  Sir  Wycherly  will  assent,  if  he  approve." 

This  was  done,  and  Sir  Wycherly  not  only  approved,  but 
it  was  apparent  to  all  present,  the  abashed  and  confounded 
Tom  himself  not  excepted,  that  he  approved,  with  a  feeling 
akin  to  delight. 

"  That  gives  a  black  eye  to  all  the  land, — hey !  Atwood  ?" 
said  Sir  Gervaise  ;  who,  by  this  time,  had  entered  into  the 
business  in  hand,  with  all  the  interest  of  a  regular  notary — 
or,  rather,  with  that  of  one,  on  whose  shoulders  rested  the 
responsibility  of  success  or  failure.  "  We  come  next  to  tho 
personals.  Do  you  wish  to  bequeath  your  furniture,  wines, 
horses,  carriages,  and  other  things  of  that  sort,  to  any  par 
ticular  person,  Sir  Wycherly  ?" 


212  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  All— Sir  Reginald— Wychecombe — half-blood—old  Sir 
Michael's  heir,"  answered  the  testator. 

"  Good — clap  that  down,  Atwood,  for  it  is  doing  the  thing, 
as  I  like  to  see  family  affairs  settled.  As  soon  as  you  are 
ready,  let  us  hear  how  it  sounds  in  writing." 

** 1 1  furthermore  bequeath  to  the  said  Sir  Reginald  Wyche 
combe  of  Wychecombe-Regis,  as  aforesaid,  baronet,  all  my 
personal  property,  whatsoever,' "  read  Atwood,  as  soon  as 
ready  ;  "  '  including  furniture,  wines,  pictures,  books,  horses 
and  carriages,  and  all  other  goods  and  chattels,  of  which  I 
may  die  possessed,  excepting  thereout  and  therefrom,  never 
theless,  such  sums  in  money,  stocks,  bonds,  notes,  or  other 
securities  for  debts,  or  such  articles  as  I  may  in  this  instru 
ment  especially  devise  to  any  other  person.'  We  can  now 
go  to  especial  legacies,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  then  another  clause 
may  make  Sir  Reginald  residuary  legatee,  if  such  be  Sir 
Wycherly's  pleasure." 

"If  you  approve  of  that  clause,  my  dear  sir,  make  the 
usual  sign  of  assent." 

Sir  Wycherly  both  raised  his  hand  and  nodded  his  head, 
evidently  quite  satisfied. 

"  Now,  my  good  sir,  we  come  to  the  pounds — no  — 
guineas  ?  You  like  that  better — well,  I  confess  that  it  sounds 
better  on  the  ear,  and  is  more  in  conformity  with  the  habits 
of  gentlemen.  Will  you  now  bequeath  guineas  ?  Good — 
first  name  the  legatee — is  that  right,  Sir  Reginald  ?" 

"  Quite  right,  Sir  Gervaise ;  and  Sir  Wycherly  will  un 
derstand  that  he  now  names  the  first  person  to  whom  he 
wishes  to  bequeath  anything  else." 

"  Milly,"  muttered  the  sick  man. 

"  What  ?  Mills  !— the  mills  go  with  the  lands,  Sir  Regi 
nald  ?" 

"  He  means  Miss  Mildred  Dutton,"  eagerly  interposed 
Wycherly,  though  with  sufficient  modesty. 

"  Yes— right— right,"  added  the  testator.  "  Little  Milly— 
Milly  Dutton — good  little  Milly." 

Sir  Gervaise  hesitated,  and  looked  round  at  Bluewater,  as 
much  as  to  say  "  this  is  bringing  coals  to  Newcastle  ;"  but 
Atwood  took  the  idea,  and  wrote  the  bequest,  in  the  usual 
form. 

"  *  I  give  and  bequeath  to  Mildred  Dutton,' "  ho  read  aloud, 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  213 

M « daughter  of  Francis  Button  of  the  Royal  Navy,  the  sum 
of—'  what  sum  shall  I  fill  the  blank  with,  Sir  Wycherly  ?" 

"  Three — three — yes,  three — " 

"  Hundreds  or  thousands,  my  good  sir  1"  asked  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  a  little  surprised  at  the  amount  of  the  bequest. 

"  Guineas — three — thousand — guineas, — five  per  cents.' 

"  That 's  as  plain  as  logarithms.  Give  the  young  lady 
three  thousand  guineas  in  the  fives,  Atwood." 

" '  I  give  and  bequeath  to  Mildred  Dutton,  daughter  of 
Francis  Dutton  of  the  Royal  Navy,  the  sum  of  three  thou 
sand  guineas  in  the  five  per  cent,  stocks  of  this  kingdom.' 
Will  that  do,  Sir  Wycherly  1"  . 

The  old  man  looked  at  Mildred  and  smiled  benevolently  ; 
for,  at  that  moment,  he  felt  he  was  placing  the  pure  and 
lovely  girl  above  the  ordinary  contingencies  of  her  situation, 
by  rendering  her  independent. 

"  Whose  name  shall  we  next  insert,  Sir  Wycherly,"  re 
sumed  the  vice-admiral.  "  There  must  be  many  more  of 
these  guineas  left." 

"  Gregory — and — James — children  of  my  brother  Tho 
mas — Baron  Wychecombe — five  thousand  guineas  each," 
added  the  testator,  making  a  great  effort  to  express  his 
meaning  as  clearly  as  possible. 

He  was  understood ;  and,  after  a  short  consultation  with 
the  vice-admiral,  Atwood  wrote  out  the  devise  at  length. 

"  *  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  nephews,  Gregory  and 
James  Wychecombe,  the  reputed  sons  of  my  late  brother, 
Thomas  Wychecombe,  one  of  the  Barons  of  His  Majesty's 
Exchequer,  the  sum  of  five  thousand  guineas,  each,  in  the 
five  per  cent,  funded  debt  of  this  kingdom.'  ' 

"  Do  you  approve  of  the  devise,  Sir  Wycherly  ?  if  so, 
make  the  usual  sign  of  assent  ?" 

Sir  Wycherly  complied,  as  in  all  the  previous  cases  of 
his  approval. 

"  Whose  name  shall  we  next  insert,  in  readiness  for  a 
legacy,  Sir  Wycherly?"  asked  the  admiral. 

Here  was  a  long  pause,  the  baronet  evidently  turning  over 
in  his  mind,  what  he  had  done,  and  what  yet  remained  to  do. 

"  Spread  yourselves,  my  friends,  in  such  a  way  as  to 
permit  the  testator  to  see  you  all,"  continued  the  vice-admi 
ral,  motioning  with  his  hand  to  widen  the  circle  around  the 


214  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

bed,  which  had  been  contracted  a  little  by  curiosity  and  in 
terest  ;  "  stand  more  this  way,  Lieutenant  Wycherly  Wyche- 
combe,  that  the  ladies  may  see  and  be  seen  ;  and  you,  too, 
Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  come  further  in  front,  where 
your  uncle  will  observe  you." 

This  speech  pretty  exactly  reflected  the  workings  of  the 
speaker's  mind.  The  idea  that  Wycherly  was  a  natural 
child  of  the  baronet's,  notwithstanding  the  Virginian  story, 
was  uppermost  in  his  thoughts ;  and,  taking  the  supposed 
fact  in  connection  with  the  young  man's  merit,  he  earnestly 
desired  to  obtain  a  legacy  for  him.  As  for  Tom,  he  cared 
little  whether  his  name  appeared  in  the  will  or  not.  Justice 
was  now  substantially  done,  and  the  judge's  property  being 
sufficient  for  his  wants,  the  present  situation  of  the  lately 
reputed  heir  excited  but  little  sympathy.  Nevertheless,  Sir 
Gervaise  thought  it  would  be  generous,  under  the  circum 
stances,  to  remind  the  testator  that  such  a  being  as  Tom 
Wychecombe  existed. 

"  Here  is  your  nephew,  Mr.  Thomas,  Sir  Wycherly,"  he 
said  ;  "  is  it  your  wish  to  let  his  name  appear  in  your  will  ?" 

The  sick  man  smiled  coldly  ;  but  he  moved  his  head,  as 
much  as  to  imply  assent. 

"  '  I  give  and  bequeath  to  Thomas  Wychecombe,  the 
eldest  reputed  son  of  my  late  brother,  Thomas,  one  of  the 
Barons  of  His  Majesty's  Exchequer,' "  read  Atwood,  when 

the  clause  was  duly  written  ;  "'the  sum  of ,  in 

the  five  per  cent,  stocks  of  this  kingdom.'  " 

"  What  sum  will  you  have  inserted,  Sir  Wycherly  ?" 
asked  the  vice-admiral. 

"  Fifty — fifty — pounds"  said  the  testator,  in  a  voice  clearer 
and  fuller  than  he  had  before  used  that  day. 

The  necessary  words  were  immediately  inserted;  the 
clause,  as  completed,  was  read  again,  and  the  approval  was 
confirmed  by  a  distinctly  pronounced  "  yes."  Tom  started, 
but,  as  all  the  others  maintained  their  self-command,  the 
business  of  the  moment  did  not  the  less  proceed. 

"  Do  you  wish  any  more  names  introduced  into  your 
will,  Sir  Wycherly  ?"  asked  the  vice-admiral.  "  You  have 
bequeathed  but — a-a-a — how  much — hey  !  Atwood  ? — ay, 
ten  and  three  are  thirteen,  and  fifty  pounds,  make  £13,1 80 ; 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  215 

and  I  hear  you  have  £20,000  funded,  besides  loose  cash, 
beyond  a  doubt." 

"Ann  Larder — Samuel  Cork — Richard  Bitts  —  David 
Brush — Phcebe  Keys,"  said  Sir  Wycherly,  slowly,  giving 
time  after  each  pause,  for  Atwood  to  write ;  naming  his 
cook,  butler,  groom,  valet  or  body-servant,  and  housekeeper^ 
in  the  order  they  have  been  laid  before  the  reader. 

"  How  much  to  each,  Sir  Wycherly? — I  see  Atwood  has 
made  short  work,  and  put  them  all  in  the  same  clause — 
that  will  never  do,  unless  the  legacies  are  the  same." 

«  Good — good— right,"  muttered  the  testator ;  "  £200 — 
each — £l  000 — all — money — money." 

This  settled  the  point,  and  the  clause  was  regularly 
written,  read,  and  approved. 

"  This  raises  the  money  bequests  to  £14,180,  Sir  Wy 
cherly — some  6  or  £7000  more  must  remain  to  be  disposed 
of.  Stand  a  little  further  this  way,  if  you  please,  Mr.  Wy 
cherly  Wychecombe,  and  allow  the  ladies  more  room. 
Whose  name  shall  we  insert  next,  sir  ?" 

Sir  Wycherly,  thus  directed  by  the  eager  desire  of  the 
admiral  to  serve  the  gallant  lieutenant,  fastened  his  eyes 
on  the  young  man,  regarding  him  quite  a  minute  in  silent 
attention. 

"  Virginian — same  name — American  — colonies  —  good 
lad — brave  lad — £1000,"  muttered  the  sick  man  between 
his  teeth ;  and,  yet  so  breathless  was  the  quiet  of  the  cham 
ber,  at  that  moment,  every  syllable  was  heard  by  all  present. 
«  Yes — £1000 — Wycherly  Wychecombe — royal  navy — " 

Atwood's  pen  was  running  rapidly  over  the  paper,  and 
had  just  reached  the  name  of  the  contemplated  legatee,  when 
his  hand  was  arrested  by  the  voice  of  the  young  man  himself. 

"  Stop,  Mr.  Atwood  —  do  not  insert  any  clause  in  my 
favour  1"  cried  Wycherly,  his  face  the  colour  of  crimson, 
and  his  chest  heaving  with  the  emotions  he  felt  it  so  difficult 
to  repress.  "  I  decline  the  legacy — it  will  be  useless  to 
write  it,  as  I  will  not  receive  a  shilling." 

"  Young  sir,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  with  a  little  of  the  severity 
of  a  superior,  when  he  rebukes  an  inferior,  in  his  manner ; 
*'  you  speak  hastily.  It  is  not  the  office  of  an  auditor  or  of 
a  spectator,  to  repel  the  kindness  of  a  man  about  to  pass 


216  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

from  the  face  of  the  earth,  into  the  more  immediate  presence 
of  his  God!" 

"  I  have  every  sentiment  of  respect  for  Sir  Wycherly 
Wychecombe,  sir ; — every  friendly  wish  for  his  speedy  re 
covery,  and  a  long  evening  to  his  life  ;  but,  I  will  accept  of 
the  money  of  no  man  who  holds  my  country  in  such  obvious 
distaste,  as,  it  is  apparent,  the  testator  holds  mine." 

"  You  are  an  Englishman,  I  believe,  Lieutenant  Wyche 
combe  ;  and  a  servant  of  King  George  II.  ?" 

"  I  am  not  an  Englishman,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes — but  an 
American  ;  a  Virginian,  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privi 
leges  of  a  British  subject.  I  am  no  more  an  Englishman, 
than  Dr.  Magrath  may  lay  claim  to  the  same  character." 

"  This  is  putting  the  case  strongly, — hey  !  Atwood  1"  an 
swered,  the  vice-admiral,  smiling  in  spite  of  the  occasion. 
"  I  am  far  from  saying  that  you  are  an  Englishman,  in  all 
senses,  sir  ;  but  you  are  one  in  the  sense  that  gives  you  na 
tional  character  and  national  rights.  You  are  a  subject  of 
England." 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  your  pardon.  I  am  the  subject  of 
George  II.,  but  in  no  manner  a  subject  of  England.  I  am, 
in  one  sense,  perhaps,  a  subject  of  the  British  empire ;  but  I 
am  not  the  less  a  Virginian,  and  an  American.  Not  a  shil 
ling  of  any  man's  money  will  I  ever  touch,  who  expresses 
his  contempt  for  either." 

"  You  forget  yourself,  young  man,  and  overlook  the 
future.  The  hundred  or  two  of  prize-money,  bought  at  the 
expense  of  your  blood,  in  the  late  affair  at  Groix,  will  not 
last  for  ever." 

"  It  is  gone,  already,  sir,  every  shilling  of  it  having  been 
sent  to  the  widow  of  the  boatswain  who  was  killed  at  my 
side.  I  am  no  beggar,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  though  only  an 
American.  I  am  the  owner  of  a  plantation,  which  affords 
me  a  respectable  independence,  already  ;  and  I  do  not  serve 
from  necessity,  but  from  choice.  Perhaps,  if  Sir  Wycherly 
knew  this,  he  would  consent  to  omit  my  name.  I  honour 
and  respect  him  ;  would  gladly  relieve  his  distress,  either 
of  body  or  mind ;  but  I  cannot  consent  to  accept  his 
money  when  offered  on  terms  I  consider  humiliating." 

This  was  said  modestly,  but  with  a  warmth  and  sincerity 
which  left  no  doubt  that  the  speaker  was  in  earnest.  Sir  Ger- 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  217 

vaise  too  much  respected  the  feelings  of  the  young  man  to 
urge  the  matter  any  further,  and  he  turned  towards  the  bed, 
in  expectation  of  what  the  sick  man  might  next  say.  Sir 
Wycherly  had  heard  and  understood  all  that  passed,  and  it 
dd  not  fail  to  produce  an  impression,  even  in  the  state  to 
which  he  was  reduced.  Kind-hearted,  and  indisposed  to 
injure  even  a  fly,  all  the  natural  feelings  of  the  old  man 
resumed  their  ascendency,  and  he  would  gladly  have  given 
every  shilling  of  his  funded  property  to  be  able  freely 
to  express  his  compunction  at  having  ever  uttered  a  syllable 
that  could  offend  sensibilities  so  noble  and  generous.  But 
this  exceeded  his  powers,  and  he  was  fain  to  do  the  best  he 
could,  in  the  painful  situation  in  which  he  was  placed. 

"  Noble  fellow  !"  he  stuttered  out ;  "  honour  to  name — 
come  here — Sir  Gervaise — bring  here — " 

«'  I  believe  it  is  the  wish  of  Sir  Wycherly,  that  you  would 
draw  near  the  bed,  Mr.  Wychecombe  of  Virginia"  said  the 
vice-admiral,  pithily,  though  he  extended  a  hand  to,  and 
smiled  kindly  on,  the  youth,  as  the  latter  passed  him  in 
compliance. 

The  sick  man  now  succeeded,  with  a  good  deal  of  diffi 
culty,  in  drawing  a  valuable  signet-ring  from  a  finger. — 
This  ring  bore  the  Wychecombe  arms,  engraved  on  it.  It 
was  without  the  bloody  hand,  however  ;  for  it  was  far  older 
than  the  order  of  baronets,  having,  as  Wycherly  well  knew, 
been  given  by  one  of  the  Plantagenet  Dukes  to  an  ancestor 
of  the  family,  during  the  French  wars  of  Henry  VI.,  and 
that,  too,  in  commemoration  of  some  signal  act  of  gallantry 
in  the  field. 

"  Wear  this — noble  fellow — honour  to  name,"  said  Sir 
Wycherly.  "  Must  be  descended — all  Wychecombes  de 
scended — him — " 

"  I  thank  you,  Sir  Wycherly,  for  this  present,  which  I 
prize  as  it  ought  to  be  prized,"  said  Wycherly,  every  trace 
of  any  other  feeling  than  that  of  gratitude  having  vanished 
from  his  countenance.  "  I  may  have  no  claims  to  your 
honours  or  money  ;  but  this  ring  I  need  not  be  ashamed  to 
v/ear,  since  it  was  bestowed  on  one  who  was  as  much  my 
ancestor,  as  he  was  the  ancestor  of  any  Wychecombe  in 
England." 

19 


218  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  Legitimate  ?"  cried  Tom,  a  fierce  feeling  of  resentmen 
upsetting  his  caution  and  cunning. 

"  Yes  sir,  legitimate"  answered  Wycherly,  turning  to  his 
interrogator  with  the  calmness  of  one  conscious  of  his  own 
truth,  and  with  a  glance  of  the  eye  that  caused  Tom  to 
shrink  back  again  into  the  circle.  "  I  need  no  6ar,  to  enable 
me  to  use  this  seal,  which,  you  may  perceive,  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes,  is  a  fac  simile  of  the  one  I  ordinarily  wear,  and 
which  was  transmitted  to  me  from  my  direct  ancestors." 

The  vice-admiral  compared  the  seal  on  Wycherly's  watch- 
chain  with  that  on  the  ring,  and,  the  bearings  being  principally 
griffins,  he  was  enabled  to  see  that  one  was  the  exact  coun 
terpart  of  the  other.  Sir  Reginald  advanced  a  step,  and 
when  the  admiral  had  satisfied  himself,  he  also  took  the  two 
seals  and  compared  them.  As  all  the  known  branches  of  the 
Wychecombes  of  Wychecombe,  bore  the  same  arms,  viz., 
griffins  for  Wychecombe,  with  three  battering-rams  quar 
tered,  for  Wycherly, — he  saw,  at  once,  that  the  young  man 
habitually  carried  about  his  person,  this  proof  of  a  common 
origin.  Sir  Reginald  knew  very  well  that  arms  were  often 
assumed,  as  well  as  names,  and  the  greater  the  obscurity  of 
the  individual  who  took  these  liberties,  the  greater  was  his 
impunity  ;  but  the  seal  was  a  very  ancient  one,  and  innova 
tions  on  personal  rights  were  far  less  frequent  a  century 
since,  than  they  are  to-day.  Then  the  character  and  ap 
pearance  of  Wycherly  put  fraud  out  of  the  question,  so  far 
as  the  young  lieutenant  himself  was  concerned.  Although 
the  elder  branch  of  the  family,  legitimately  speaking,  was 
reduced  to  the  helpless  old  man  who  was  now  stretched 
upon  his  death-bed,  his  own  had  been  extensive  ;  and  it  well 
might  be  that  some  cadet  of  the  Wychecombes  of  Wyche- 
combe-Regis,  had  strayed  into  the  colonies  and  left  de 
scendants.  Secretly  resolving  to  look  more  closely  into 
these  facts,  he  gravely  returned  the  seals,  and  intimated 
to  Sir  Gervaise  that  the  more  important  business  before  them 
had  better  proceed.  On  .this  hint,  Atwood  resumed  the  pen, 
and  the  vice-admiral  his  duties. 

"  There  want  yet  some  6  or  £7000  to  make  up  £20,000, 
Sir  Wycherly,  which  I  understand  is  the  sum  you  have  in 
the  funds.  Whose  name  or  names  will  you  have  next 
inserted  ?" 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  219 

"  Rotherham — vicar — poor  St.  James — gone  ;  yes — Mr. 
— Rotherham — vicar." 

The  clause  was  written,  the  sum  of  £1000  was  inserted, 
and  the  whole  was  read  and  approved. 

"  This  still  leaves  us  some  £5000  more  to  deal  with,  my 
dear  sir  ?" 

A  long  pause  succeeded,  during  which  time  Sir  Wycherly 
was  deliberating  what  to  do  with  the  rest  of  his  ready  money. 
At  length  his  wandering  eye  rested  on  the  pale  features  of 
Mrs.  Button ;  and,  while  he  had  a  sort  of  liking,  that  pro 
ceeded  from  habit,  for  her  husband,  he  remembered  that  she 
had  many  causes  for  sorrow.  With  a  feeling  that  was 
creditable  to  his  own  heart,  he  uttered  her  name,  and  the 
sum  of  £2000.  The  clause  was  written,  accordingly,  read 
and  approved. 

"  We  have  still  £3000  certainly,  if  not  £4000,"  added 
Sir  Gervaise. 

"  Milly — dear  little — Milly — pretty  Milly,"  stammered  out 
the  baronet,  affectionately. 

"  This  must  go  into  a  codicil,  Sir  Gervaise,"  interrupted 
Atwood ;  "  there  being  already  one  legacy  in  the  young 
lady's  favour.  Shall  it  be  one,  two,  three,  or  four  thousand 
pounds,  Sir  Wycherly,  in  favour  of  Miss  Mildred,  to  whom 
you  have  already  bequeathed  £3000  ?" 

The  sick  man  muttered  the  words  "  three  thousand,"  after 
a  short  pause,  adding  "  codicil." 

His  wishes  were  complied  with,  and  the  whole  was  read 
and  approved.  After  this,  Sir  Gervaise  inquired  if  the 
testator  wished  to  make  any  more  devises.  Sir  Wycherly, 
who  had  in  effect  bequeathed,  within  a  few  hundred  pounds, 
all  he  had  to  bestow,  bethought  himself,  for  a  few  moments, 
of  the  state  of  his  affairs,  and  then  he  signified  his  satisfaction 
with  what  had  been  done. 

"  As  it  is  possible,  Sir  Wycherly,  that  you  may  have 
overlooked  something-,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  "  and  it  is  better 
that  nothing  should  escheat  to  the  crown,  I  will  suggest  the 
expediency  of  your  making  some  one  residuary  legatee." 

The  poor  old  man  smiled  an  assent,  and  then  he  suc 
ceeded  in  muttering  the  name  of  "  Sir  Regina  d  Wyche- 
combe." 

This  clause,  like  all  the  others,  was  written,  read,  and 


220  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

approved.  The  will  was  now  completed,  and  preparations 
were  made  to  read  it  carefully  over  to  the  intended  testator. 
In  order  that  this  might  be  done  with  sufficient  care  for 
future  objections,  the  two  admirals  and  Atwood,  who  were 
selected  for  the  witnesses,  each  read  the  testament  himself, 
hi  order  to  say  that  nothing  was  laid  before  the  testator  but 
ihat  which  was  fairly  contained  in  the  instrument,  and  that 
nothing  was  omitted.  When  all  was  ready,  the  will  was 
audibly  and  slowly  read  to  Sir  Wycherly,  by  the  secretary, 
from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  The  old  man  listened  with 
great  attention ;  smiled  when  Mildred's  name  was  men- 
tioned  ;  and  clearly  expressed,  by  signs  and  words,  his  entire 
satisfaction  when  all  was  ended.  It  remained  only  to  place 
a  pen  in  his  hand,  and  to  give  him  such  assistance  as  would 
enable  him  to  affix  his  name  twice ;  once  to  the  body  of  the 
instrument ;  and,  when  this  was  duly  witnessed,  then  again 
to  the  codicil.  By  this  time,  Tom  Wychecombe  thought 
that  the  moment  for  interposing  had  arrived.  He  had  been 
on  thorns  during  the  whole  proceeding,  forming  desperate 
resolutions  to  sustain  the  bold  fraud  of  his  legitimacy,  and 
thus  take  all  the  lands  and  heir-looms  of  the  estate,  under 
the  entail ;  still  he  well  knew  that  a  subordinate,  but  impor 
tant  question  might  arise,  as  between  the  validity  of  the  two 
wills,  in  connection  with  Sir  Wycherly's  competency  to 
make  the  last.  It  was  material,  therefore,  in  his  view  of  the 
case,  to  enter  a  protest. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  advancing  to  the  foot  of  the  bed  ; 
"  I  call  on  you  all  to  observe  the  nature  of  this  whole  trans 
action.  My  poor,  beloved,  but  misled  uncle,  no  longer  ago 
than  last  night,  was  struck  with  a  fit  of  apoplexy,  or  some 
thing  so  very  near  it  as  to  disqualify  him  to  judge  in  these 
matters  ,*  and  here  he  is  urged  to  make  a  will — " 

"  By  whom,  sir  ?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  with  a  severity 
of  tone  that  induced  the  speaker  to  fall  back  a  step. 

"  Why,  sir,  in  my  judgment,  by  all  in  the  room.  If  not 
with  their  tongues,  at  least  with  their  eyes." 

"  And  why  should  all  in  the  room  do  this  1  Am  I  a  lega 
tee  1 — is  Admiral  Bluewater  to  be  a  gainer  by  this  will  ? — 
can  witnesses  to  a  will  be  legatees?" 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  dispute  the  matter  with  you,  Sir  Ger 
vaise  Oakes ;  but  I  solemnly  protest  against  this  irregular 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  221 

and  most  extraordinary  manner  of  making  a  will.  Let  all 
who  hear  me,  remember  this,  and  be  ready  to  testify  to  it, 
when  called  on  in  a  court  of  justice." 

Here  Sir  Wycherly  struggled  to  rise  in  the  bed,  in  evident 
excitement,  gesticulating  strongly  to  express  his  disgust,  and 
his  wish  for  his  nephew  to  withdraw.  But  the  physicians 
endeavoured  to  pacify  him,  while  Atwood,  with  the  paper 
spread  on  a  port-folio,  and  a  pen  in  readiness,  coolly  pro 
ceeded  to  obtain  the  necessary  signatures.  Sir  Wycherly's 
hand  trembled  so  much  when  it  received  the  pen,  that,  for  the 
moment,  writing  was  out  of  the  question,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  administer  a  restorative  in  order  to  strengthen 
his  nerves. 

"Away — out  of  sight,"  muttered  the  excited  baronet, 
leaving  no  doubt  on  all  present,  that  the  uppermost  feeling 
of  the  moment  was  the  strong  desire  to  rid  himself  of  the 
presence  of  the  offensive  object.  "  Sir  Reginald — little  Milly 
— poor  servants — brothers — all  the  rest,  stay." 

"  Just  be  calming  the  mind,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe," 
put  in  Magrath,  "  and  ye  '11  be  solacing  the  body  by  the  same 
effort.  When  the  mind  is  in  a  state  of  exaltation,  the  nervous 
system  is  apt  to  feel  the  influence  of  sympathy.  By  bring 
ing  the  two  in  harmonious  co-operation,  the  testamentary 
devises  will  have  none  the  less  of  validity,  either  in  reality 
or  in  appearances." 

Sir  Wycherly  understood  the  surgeon,  and  he  struggled 
for  self-command.  He  raised  the  pen,  and  succeeded  in 
getting  its  point  on  the  proper  place.  Then  his  dim  eye 
lighted,  and  shot  a  reproachful  glance  at  Tom ;  he  smiled 
in  a  ghastly  manner,  looked  towards  the  paper,  passed  a 
hand  across  his  brow,  closed  his  eyes,  and  fell  back  on  the 
pillow,  utterly  unconscious  of  all  that  belonged  to  life,  its 
interests,  its  duties,  or  its  feelings.  In  ten  minutes,  he  ceased 
to  breathe. 

Thus  died  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  after  a  long  life, 
in  which  general  qualities  of  a  very  negative  nature,  had 
been  somewhat  relieved,  by  kindness  of  feeling,  a  passive 
if  not  an  active  benevolence,  and  such  a  discharge  of  his 
responsible  duties  as  is  apt  to  flow  from  an  absence  of  any 
qualities  that  are  positively  bad ;  as  well  as  of  many  of 
material  account,  that  are  affirmatively  good. 
19* 


222  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

"  Come  yc,  who  still  the  cumbrous  load  of  life 
Push  hard  up  hill ;  but  at  the  farthest  steep 
You  trust  to  gain,  and  put  an  end  to  strife, 
Down  thunders  back  the  stone  with  mighty  sweep, 
And  hurls  your  labours  to  the  valley  deep ; — " 

THOMSON. 

THE  sudden,  and,  in  some  measure,  unlooked-for  event 
related  in  the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  produced  a  great 
change  in  the  condition  of  things  at  Wychecombe  Hall. 
The  first  step  was  to  make  sure  that  the  baronet  was  actu 
ally  dead  ;  a  fact  that  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  in  particular,  was 
very  unwilling  to  believe,  in  the  actual  state  of  his  feelings. 
Men  often  fainted,  and  apoplexy  required  three  blows  to 
kill ;  the  sick  man  might  still  revive,  and  at  least  be  able 
to  execute  his  so  clearly  expressed  intentions. 

"  Ye  '11  never  have  act  of  any  sort,  teslamentary  or  matri 
monial,  legal  or  illegal,  in  this  life,  from  the  late  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  Wychecombe  of  Wychecombe  Hall,  Devonshire," 
coolly  observed  Magrath,  as  he  collected  the  different  medi 
cines  and  instruments  he  had  himself  brought  forth  for  the 
occasion.  "  He 's  far  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  My  Lord 
High  Chancellor  or  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  ; 
and  therefore,  ye  '11  be  acting  prudently  to  consider  him  as 
deceased  ;  or,  in  the  light  in  which  the  human  body  is  placed 
by  the  cessation  of  all  the  animal  functions." 

This  decided  the  matter,  and  the  necessary  orders  were 
given ;  all  but  the  proper  attendants  quitting  the  chamber 
of  death.  It  would  be  far  from  true  to  say  that  no  one 
lamented  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe.  Both  Mrs.  Dutton 
and  Mildred  grieved  for  his  sudden  end,  and  wept  sincerely 
for  his  loss  ;  though  totally  without  a  thought  of  its  conse 
quences  to  themselves.  The  daughter  did  not  even  once 
think  how  near  she  had  been  to  the  possession  of  £6000, 
and  how  unfortunately  the  cup  of  comparative  affluence  had 
been  dashed  from  her  lips  ;  though  truth  compels  us  to  avow 
that  the  mother  did  once  recall  this  circumstance,  with  a 


THE      TWO     ADMIRALS.  223 

feeling  akin  to  regret.  A  similar  recollection  had  its  influ 
ence  on  the  manifestations  of  sorrow  that  flowed  from  others. 
The  domestics,  in  particular,  were  too  much  astounded  to 
indulge  in  any  very  abstracted  grief,  and  Sir  Gervaise  and 
Atwood  were  both  extremely  vexed.  In  short,  the  feelings 
usual  to  such  occasions  were  but  little  indulged  in,  though 
there  was  a  strict  observance  of  decorum. 

Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  noted  these  circumstances 
attentively,  and  he  took  his  measures  accordingly.  Seizing 
a  favourable  moment  to  consult  with  the  two  admirals,  his 
decision  was  soon  made  ;  and,  within  an  hour  after  his  kins 
man's  death,  all  the  guests  and  most  of  the  upper  servants 
were  assembled  in  the  room,  which  it  was  the  usage  of  the 
house  to  call  the  library ;  though  the  books  were  few,  and 
seldom  read.  Previously,  there  had  been  a  consultation 
between  Sir  Reginald  and  the  two  admirals,  to  which  Atwood 
had  been  admitted,  ex  officio.  As  everything,  therefore,  had 
been  arranged  in  advance,  there  was  no  time  lost  unneces 
sarily,  when  the  company  was  collected ;  the  Hertfordshire 
baronet  coming  to  the  point  at  once,  and  that  in  the  clearest 
manner. 

"  Gentlemen,  and  you,  good  people,  domestics  of  the  late 
Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,"  he  commenced ;  "  you  are 
all  acquainted  with  the  unfortunate  state  of  this  household. 
By  the  recent  death  of  its  master,  it  is  left  without  a  head  ; 
and  the  deceased  departing  this  life  a  bachelor,  there  is  no 
child  to  assume  his  place,  as  the  natural  and  legal  successor. 
In  one  sense,  I  might  be  deemed  the  next  of  kin ;  though, 
by  a  dictum  of  the  common  law  I  have  no  claim  to  the  suc 
cession.  Nevertheless,  you  all  know  it  was  the  intention 
of  our  late  friend  to  constitute  me  his  executor,  and  I  con 
ceive  it  proper  that  search  should  now  be  made  for  a  will, 
which,  by  being  duly  executed,  must  dispose  of  all  in  this 
house,  and  let  us  know  who  is  entitled  to  command  at  this 
solemn  and  important  moment.  It  strikes  me,  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes,  that  the  circumstances  are  so  peculiar  as  to  call  for 
prompt  proceedings." 

"  I  fully  agree  with  you,  Sir  Reginald,"  returned  the  vice- 
admiral  ;  "  but  before  we  proceed  any  further,  I  would  sug 
gest  the  propriety  of  having  as  many  of  those  present  as 
possible,  who  have  an  interest  in  the  result.  Mr.  Thomas 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

Wychecombe,  the  reputed  nephew  of  the  deceased,  I  do  not 
see  among  us." 

On  examination,  this  was  found  to  be  true,  and  the  man 
of  Tom  Wychecombe,  who  had  been  ordered  by  his  master 
to  be  present  as  a  spy,  was  immediately  sent  to  the  latter,  with 
a  request  that  he  would  attend.  After  a  delay  of  two  or 
three  minutes,  the  fellow  returned  with  the  answer. 

"  Sir  Thomas  Wychecombe's  compliments,  gentlemen," 
he  said,  "  and  he  desires  to  know  the  object  of  your  request. 
He  is  in  his  room,  indulging  in  natural  grief  for  his  recent 
loss  ;  and  he  prefers  to  be  left  alone  with  his  sorrows,  just 
at  this  moment,  if  it  be  agreeable  to  you." 

This  was  taking  high  ground  in  the  commencement ;  and, 
as  the  man  had  his  cue,  and  delivered  his  message  with 
great  distinctness  and  steadiness,  the  effect  on  the  depend 
ants  of  the  household  was  very  evident.  Sir  Reginald's  face 
flushed,  while  Sir  Gervaise  bit  his  lip  ;  Bluevvater  played 
with  the .  hilt  of  his  sword,  very  indifferent  to  all  that  was 
passing ;  while  Atwood  and  the  surgeons  shrugged  their 
shoulders  and  smiled.  The  first  of  these  persons  well  knew 
that  Tom  had  no  shadow  of  a  claim  to  the  title  he  had  been 
in  so  much  haste  to  assume,  however,  and  he  hoped  that 
the  feebleness  of  his  rights  in  all  particulars,  was  represented 
by  the  mixed  feebleness  and  impudence  connected  with  this 
message.  Determined  not  to  be  bullied  from  his  present 
purpose,  therefore,  he  turned  to  the  servant  and  sent  him 
back  with  a  second  message,  that  did  not  fail  of  its  object. 
The  man  was  directed  to  inform  his  master,  that  Sir  Regi 
nald  Wychecombe  was  in  possession  of  facts  that,  in  his 
opinion,  justified  the  course  he  was  taking,  and  if  "  Mr. 
Thomas  Wychecombe"  did  not  choose  to  appear,  in  order 
to  look  after  his  own  interests,  he  should  proceed  without 
him.  This  brought  Tom  into  the  room,  his  face  pale  with 
uncertainty,  rather  than  with  grief,  and  his  mind  agitated 
with  such  apprehensions  as  are  apt  to  beset  even  the  most 
wicked,  when  they  take  their  first  important  step  in  evil. 
He  bowed,  however,  to  the  company  with  an  air  that  he 
intended  to  represent  the  manner  of  a,  well-bred  man  acknow 
ledging  his  duties  to  respected  guests. 

"  If  I  appear  remiss  in  any  of  the  duties  of  a  host,  gentle 
men,"  he  said,  "  you  will  overlook  it,  I  trust,  in  considera- 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  225 

tion  of  my  present  feelings.  Sir  Wycherly  was  my  father's 
elder  brother,  and  was  very  dear,  as  he  was  very  near  to 
me.  By  this  melancholy  death,  Sir  Reginald,  I  am  sud 
denly  and  unexpectedly  elevated  to  be  the  head  of  our 
ancient  and  honourable  family  ;  but  I  know  my  own  per 
sonal  unworthiness  to  occupy  that  distinguished  place,  and 
feel  how  much  better  it  would  be  filled  by  yourself.  Al 
though  the  law  has  placed  a  wide  and  impassable  barrier 
between  all  of  your  branch  of  the  family  and  ourselves,  I 
shall  ever  be  ready  to  acknowledge  the  affinity,  and  to  confess 
that  it  does  us  quite  as  much  honour  as  it  bestows." 

Sir  Reginald,  by  a  great  effort,  commanded  himself  so 
far  as  to  return  the  bow,  and  apparently  to  receive  the  con 
descending  admissions  of  the  speech,  with  a  proper  degree 
of  respect. 

"  Sir,  I  thank  you,"  he  answered,  with  formal  courtesy  ; 
"  no  affinity  that  can  be  properly  and  legally  established, 
will  ever  be  disavowed  by  me.  Under  present  circumstances, 
however,  summoned  as  I  have  been  to  the  side  of  his  death 
bed,  by  the  late  Sir  Wycherly,  himself,  and  named  by  him, 
as  one  might  say,  with  his  dying  breath,  as  his  executor,  I 
feel  it  a  duty  to  inquire  into  the  rights  of  all  parties,  and,  if 
possible,  to  ascertain  who  is  the  successor,  and  consequently 
who  has  the  best  claim  to  command  here." 

"  You  surely  do  not  attach  any  validity,  Sir  Reginald,  to 
the  pretended  will  that  was  so  singularly  drawn  up  in  my 
dear  uncle's  presence,  an  hour  before  he  died !  Had  that 
most  extraordinary  instrument  been  duly  signed  and  sealed, 
I  cannot  think  that  the  Doctor's  Commons  would  sustain  it ; 
but  unsigned  and  unsealed,  it  is  no  better  than  so  much 
waste  paper." 

"  As  respects  the  real  estate,  sir,  though  so  great  a  loser 
by  the  delay  of  five  minutes,  I  am  willing  to  admit  that  you 
are  right.  With  regard  to  the  personals,  a  question  in 
equity — one  of  clearly-expressed  intention — might  possibly 
arise ;  though  even  of  that  I  am  by  no  means  certain." 

"  No,  sir  ;  no—"  cried  Tom,  a  glow  of  triumph  colouring 
his  cheek,  in  spite  of  every  effort  to  appear  calm ;  "  no 
English  court  would  ever  disturb  the  natural  succession  to 
the  personals !  I  am  the  last  man  to  wish  to  disturb  some 
of  these  legacies — particularly  that  to  Mr.  Rotherham,  and 


226  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

those  to  the  poor,  faithful  domestics," — Tom  saw  the  pru« 
dence  of  conciliating  allies,  at  such  a  critical  moment,  and 
his  declaration  had  an  instant  and  strong  effect,  as  was  evi 
dent  by  the  countenances  of  many  of  the  listeners ;  — - 
"and  I  may  say,  that  to  Miss  Mildred  Button ;  all  of  which 
will  be  duly  paid,  precisely  as  if  my  beloved  uncle  had  been 
in  his  right  mind,  and  had  actually  made  the  bequests  ;  for 
this  mixture  of  reason  and  justice,  with  wild  and  extraordi 
nary  conceits,  is  by  no  means  uncommon  among  men  of 
great  age,  and  in  their  last  moments.  However,  Sir  Regi 
nald,  I  beg  you  will  proceed,  and  act  as  in  your  judgment 
the  extraordinary  circumstances  of  what  may  be  called  a 
very  peculiar  case,  require." 

"  I  conceive  it  to  be  our  duty,  sir,  to  search  for  a  will. 
If  Sir  Wycherly  has  actually  died  intestate,  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  inquire  into  the  question  of  the  succession  at  com 
mon  law.  I  have  here  the  keys  of  his  private  secretary ; 
and  Mr.  Furlong,  the  land-steward,  who  has  just  arrived, 
and  whom  you  see  in  the  room,  tells  me  Sir  Wycherly  was 
accustomed  to  keep  all  his  valuable  papers  in  this  piece  of 
furniture.  I  shall  now  proceed  to  open  it." 

"  Do  so,  Sir  Reginald ;  no  one  can  have  a  stronger  desire 
than  myself  to  ascertain  my  beloved  uncle's  pleasure.  Those 
to  whom  he  seemed  to  wish  to  give,  even,  shall  not  be  losers 
for  the  want  of  his  name." 

Tom  was  greatly  raised  in  the  opinions  of  half  in  the 
room,  by  this  artful  declaration,  which  was  effectually  se 
curing  just  so  many  friends,  in  the  event  of  any  occurrence 
that  might  render  such  support  necessary.  In  the  mean 
time,  Sir  Reginald,  assisted  by  the  steward,  opened  the 
secretary,  and  found  the  deposite  of  papers.  The  leases 
were  all  in  order ;  the  title-deeds  were  properly  arranged  ; 
the  books  and  accounts  appeared  to  be  exactly  kept ;  ordi 
nary  bills  and  receipts  were  filed  with  method  ;  two  or  three 
bags  of  guineas  proved  that  ready  cash  was  not  wanting ; 
and,  in  short,  everything  showed  that  the  deceased  had  left 
his  affairs  in  perfect  order,  and  in  a  very  intelligible  condi 
tion.  Paper  after  paper,  however,  was  opened,  and  nothing 
like  a  will,  rough  draft  or  copied,  was  to  be  found.  Disap 
pointment  was  strongly  painted  on  the  faces  of  all  the  gen 
tlemen  present ;  for,  they  had  ignorantly  imbibed  the  opinion, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  227 

that  the  production  of  a  will  would,  in  some  unknown  man 
ner,  defeat  the  hopes  of  the  soi  disant  Sir  Thomas  Wyche- 
combe.  Nor  was  Tom,  himself,  altogether  without  concern  ; 
for,  since  the  recent  change  in  his  uncle's  feelings  towards 
himself,  he  had  a  secret  apprehension  that  some  paper  might 
be  found,  to  defeat  all  his  hopes.  Triumph,  however,  gradu 
ally  assumed  the  place  of  fear,  in  the  expression  of  hia 
countenance ;  and  when  Mr.  Furlong,  a  perfectly  honest 
man,  declared  that,  from  the  late  baronet's  habits,  as  well  as 
from  the  result  of  this  search,  he  did  not  believe  that  any 
such  instrument  existed,  his  feelings  overflowed  in  language. 

"  Not  so  fast,  Master  Furlong — not  so  fast,"  he  cried  ; 
"  here  is  something  that  possibly  even  your  legal  acumen 
may  be  willing  to  term  a  will.  You  perceive,  gentlemen,  I 
have  it  in  my  possession  on  good  authority,  as  it  is  addressed 
to  me  by  name,  and  that,  too,  in  Sir  Wycherly's  own  hand 
writing  ;  the  envelope  is  sealed  with  his  private  seal.  You 
will  pronounce  this  to  be  my  dear  uncle's  hand,  Furlong," — 
showing  the  superscription  of  the  letter — "  and  this  to  be  his 
seal?" 

"  Both  are  genuine,  gentlemen,"  returned  the  steward, 
with  a  sigh.  "  Thus  far,  Mr.  Thomas  is  in  the  right." 

"  Mr.  Thomas,  sirrah  !  —  And  why  not  Sir  Thomas  ? 
.^jre  baronets  addressed  as  other  men,  in  England  ?  But,  no 
matter  !  There  is  a  time  for  all  things.  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes, 
as  you  are  perfectly  indifferent  in  this  affair,  I  ask  of  you  the 
favour  to  break  the  seal,  and  to  inquire  into  the  contents  of 
the  paper?" 

The  vice-admiral  was  not  slow  in  complying ;  for,  by 
this  time,  he  began  to  feel  an  intense  interest  in  the  result. 
The  reader  will  readily  understand  that  Tom  had  handed  to 
Sir  Gervaise  the  will  drawn  up  by  his  father,  and  which, 
after  inserting  his  reputed  nephew's  name,  Sir  Wycherly 
had  duly  executed,  and  delivered  to  the  person  most  interested. 
The  envelope,  address,  and  outer  seal,  Tom  had  obtained 
the  very  day  the  will  was  signed,  after  assuring  himself  of 
the  contents  of  the  latter,  by  six  or  eight  careful  perusals. 
The  vice-admiral  read  the  instrument  from  beginning  to 
end,  before  he  put  it  into  the  hands  of  Sir  Reginald  to  ex 
amine.  The  latter  fully  expected  to  meet  with  a  clumsy 
forgery  ;  but  the  instant  his  eyes  fell  on  the  phraseology,  he 


228  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

perceived  that  the  will  had  been  drawn  by  one  expert  in  the 
law.  A  second  look  satisfied  him  that  the  hand  was  that 
of  Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe.  It  has  already  been  said,  that 
in  this  instrument,  Sir  Wycherly  had  bequeathed  all  he  had 
on  earth,  to  "  his  nephew,  Thomas  Wychecombe,  son,  &c. 
&c."  making  his  heir,  also,  his  executor. 

"  This  will  appears  to  me  to  have  been  drawn  up  by  a 
very  skilful  lawyer ;  the  late  Baron  Wychecombe,"  observed 
the  baronet. 

"  It  was,  Sir  Reginald,"  answered  Tom,  endeavouring  to 
appear  unconcerned.  "  He  did  it  to  oblige  my  respected 
uncle,  leaving  blanks  for  the  name  of  the  devisee,  not  liking 
to  make  a  will  so  very  decidedly  in  favour  of  his  own  son. 
The  writing  in  the  blanks  is  by  Sir  Wycherly  himself, 
leaving  no  doubts  of  his  intentions." 

"  I  do  not  see  but  you  may  claim  to  be  the  heir  of  Wyche- 
rombe,  sir,  as  well  as  of  the  personals  ;  though  your  claims 
to  the  baronetcy  shall  certainly  be  contested  and  defeated." 

"  And  why  defeated  ?"  demanded  Wycherly,  stepping  for 
ward  for  the  first  time,  and  speaking  with  a  curiosity  he 
found  it  difficult  to  control.  "  Is  not  Mr.  Thomas  —  Sir 
Thomas,  I  ought  rather  to  say, — the  eldest  son  of  the  late 
Sir  Wycherly's  next  brother ;  and,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
heir  to  the  title,  as  well  as  to  the  estate  ?" 

"  Not  he,  as  I  can  answer  from  a  careful  examination  of 
proofs.  Mr.  Baron  Wychecombe  was  never  married,  and 
thus  could  have  no  heir  at  law." 

"  Is  this  possible  ! — How  have  we  all  been  deceived  then, 
in  America  !" 

"  Why  do  you  say  this,  young  gentleman  ?  Can  you  have 
any  legal  claims  here  ?" 

"I  am  Wycherly,  the  only  son  of  Wycherly,  who  was 
the  eldest  son  of  Gregory,  the  younger  brother  of  the  late 
baronet ;  and  if  what  you  say  be  true,  the  next  in  succession 
to  the  baronetcy,  at  least." 

"  This  is — "  Tom's  words  stuck  in  his  throat ;  for  the 
quiet,  stern  eye  of  the  young  sailor  met  his  look  and  warned 
him  to  be  prudent.  —  "This  is  a  mistake"  he  resumed. 
"  My  uncle  Gregory  was  lost  at  sea,  and  died  a  bachelor, 
He  c\/i  have  left  no  lawful  issue." 

"  I    must   say,  young   gentleman,"  added  Sir  Reginald, 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  229 

gravely,  "  that  such  has  always  been  the  history  of  his  fate. 
I  have  had  too  near  an  interest  in  this  family,  to  neglect  its 
annals." 

"  I  know,  sir,  that  such  has  been  the  opinion  here  for  more 
than  half  a  century  ;  but  it  was  founded  in  error.  The  facts 
are  simply  these.  My  grandfather,  a  warm-hearted  but 
impetuous  young  man,  struck  an  older  lieutenant,  when 
ashore  and  on  duty,  in  one  of  the  West  India  Islands.  The 
penalty  was  death ;  but,  neither  the  party  injured  nor  the 
commander  of  the  vessel,  wished  to  push  matters  to  ex 
tremity,  and  the  offender  was  advised  to  absent  himself  from 
the  ship,  at  the  moment  of  sailing.  The  injured  party  was 
induced  to  take  this  course,  as  in  a  previous  quarrel,  my 
grandfather  had  received  his  fire,  without  returning  it ; 
frankly  admitting  his  fault.  The  ship  did  sail  without  Mr. 
Gregory  Wychecombe,  and  was  lost,  every  soul  on  board 
perishing.  My  grandfather  passed  into  Virginia,  where  he 
remained  a  twelvemonth,  suppressing  his  story,  lest  its  narra 
tion  might  lead  to  military  punishment.  Love  next  sealed 
his  future  fate.  He  married  a  woman  of  fortune,  and  though 
his  history  was  well  known  in  his  own  retired  circle,  it 
never  spread  beyond  it.  No  one  supposed  him  near  the 
succession,  and  there  was  no  motive  for  stating  the  fact,  on 
account  of  his  interests.  Once  he  wrote  to  Sir  Wycherly, 
but  he  suppressed  the  letter,  as  likely  to  give  more  pain 
than  pleasure.  That  letter  I  now  have,  and  in  his  own 
hand-writing.  I  have  also  his  commission,  and  all  the  other 
proofs  of  identity  that  such  a  person  would  be  apt  to  pos 
sess.  They  are  as  complete  as  any  court  in  Christendom 
would  be  likely  to  require,  for  he  never  felt  a  necessity  for 
changing  his  name.  He  has  been  dead  but  two  years,  and 
previously  to  dying  he  saw  that  every  document  necessary 
to  establish  my  claim,  should  a  moment  for  enforcing  it  ever 
arrive,  was  put  in  such  a  legal  form  as  to  admit  of  no  cavil 
ling.  He  outlived  my  own  father,  but  none  of  us  thought 
there  was  any  motive  for  presenting  ourselves,  as  all  be 
lieved  that  the  sons  of  Baron  Wychecombe  were  legitimate. 
T  can  only  say,  sir,  that  I  have  complete  legal  evidence  that 
I  am  heir  at  law  of  Gregory,  the  younger  brother  of  the  late 
Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe.  Whether  the  fact  will  give 
me  anv  rights  here,  you  best  can  say." 
20 


230  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  It  will  make  you  heir  of  entail  to  this  estate,  master  of 
this  house,  and  of  most  of  what  it  contains,  and  the  present 
baronet.  You  have  only  to  prove  what  you  say,  to  defeat 
every  provision  of  this  will,  with  the  exception  of  that  which 
refers  to  the  personal  estate." 

"  Bravo !"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  fairly  rubbing  his  hands 
with  delight.  "  Bravo,  Dick  ;  if  we  were  aboard  the  Plan- 
tagenet,  by  the  Lord,  I  'd  turn  the  hands  up,  and  have  three 
cheers.  So  then,  my  brave  young  seaman,  you  turn  out  to 
be  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  after  all  !" 

"  Yes,  that 's  the  way  we  always  does,  on  board  ship," 
observed  Galleygo,  to  the  group  of  domestics  ;  "  whenever 
anything  of  a  hallooing  character  turns  up.  Sometimes  we 
makes  a  signal  to  Admiral  Blue  and  the  rest  on  'em,  to 
*  stand  by  to  cheer,'  and  all  of  us  sets  to,  to  cheer  as  if  our 
stomachs  was  full  of  hurrahs,  and  we  wanted  to  get  rid  on 
'em.  If  Sir  Jarvy  would  just  pass  the  word  now,  you  'd 
have  a  taste  of  that  'ere  custom,  that  would  do  your  ears 
good  for  a  twelve-month.  It 's  a  cheering  matter  when  one 
of  the  trade  falls  heir  to  an  estate." 

"  And  would  this  be  a  proper  mode  of  settling  a  question 
of  a  right  of  property,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes?"  asked  Tom, 
with  more  of  right  and  reason  than  he  commonly  had  of  his 
side  ;  "  and  that,  too,  with  my  uncle  lying  dead  beneath  this 
roof?" 

"  I  acknowledge  the  justice  of  the  reproof,  young  sir,  and 
will  say  no  more  in  the  matter — at  least,  nothing  as  indis 
creet  as  my  last  speech.  Sir  Reginald,  you  have  the  affair 
in  hand,  and  I  recommend  it  to  your  serious  attention." 

"  Fear  nothing,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  he  of  Hertford 
shire.  "  Justice  shall  be  done  in  the  premises,  if  justice  rule 
in  England.  Your  story,  young  gentleman,  is  probable, 
and  naturally  told,  and  I  see  a  family  likeness  between  you 
and  the  Wychecombes,  generally ;  a  likeness  that  is  cer 
tainly  not  to  be  traced  in  the  person  of  the  other  claimant. 
Did  the  point  depend  on  the  legitimacy  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe,  it  might  be  easily  determined,  as  I  have  his 
own  mother's  declaration  to  the  fact  of  his  illegitimacy,  as 
well  as  of  one  other  material  circumstance  that  may  possibly 
unsettle  even  the  late  Baron  Wychecornbe's  will.  But  this 
testamentary  devise  of  Sir  Wycherly  appears  to  be  perfect, 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  231 

and  nothing  but  the  entail  can  defeat  it.  You  speak  of  your 
proofs  ;  where  are  they  1  It  is  all-important  to  know  which 
party  is  entitled  to  possession." 

"  Here  they  are,  sir,"  answered  Wycherly,  removing  a 
belt  from  his  body,  and  producing  his  papers  ;  "  not  in  the 
originals,  certainly  ;  for  most  of  them  are  matters  of  official 
record,  in  Virginia  ;  but  in,  what  the  lawyers  call  '  exem 
plified  copies,'  and  which  I  am  told  are  in  a  fit  state  to  be 
read  as  evidence  in  any  court  in  England,  that  can  take 
cognizance  of  the  matter." 

Sir  Reginald  took  the  papers,  and  began  to  read  them, 
one  by  one,  and  with  deep  attention.  The  evidence  of  the 
identity  of  the  grandfather  was  full,  and  of  the  clearest 
nature.  He  had  been  recognised  as  an  old  schoolfellow,  by 
one  of  the  governors  of  the  colony,  and  it  was  at  this  gen 
tleman's  suggestion  that  he  had  taken  so  much  pains  to  per 
petuate  the  evidence  of  his  identity.  Both  the  marriages, 
one  with  Jane  Beverly,  and  the  other  with  Rebecca  Ran 
dolph,  were  fully  substantiated,  as  were  the  two  births. 
The  personal  identity  of  the  young  man,  and  this  too  as  the 
only  son  of  Wycherly,  the  eldest  son  of  Gregory,  was  well 
certified  to,  and  in  a  way  that  could  leave  no  doubt  as  to  the 
person  meant.  In  a  word,  the  proofs  were  such  as  a  careful 
and  experienced  lawyer  would  have  prepared,  in  a  case  that 
admitted  of  no  doubt,  and  which  was  liable  to  be  contested  in 
a  court  of  law.  Sir  Reginald  was  quite  half  an  hour  in 
looking  over  the  papers  ;  and  during  this  time,  every  eye  in 
the  room  was  on  him,  watching  the  expression  of  his  conn- 
tenance  with  the  utmost  solicitude.  At  length,  he  finished 
his  task,  when  he  again  turned  to  Wycherly. 

"  These  papers  have  been  prepared  with  great  method, 
and  an  acute  knowledge  of  what  might  be  required,"  he 
snid.  "  Why  have  they  been  so  long  suppressed,  and  why 
did  you  permit  Sir  Wycherly  to  die  in  ignorance  of  your 
near  affinity  to  him,  and  of  your  claims?" 

"  Of  my  claims  I  was  ignorant  myself,  believing  not  only 
Mr.  Thomas  Wychecombe,  but  his  two  brothers,  to  stand 
before  me.  This  was  the  opinion  of  my  grandfather,  even 
when  he  caused  these  proofs  to  be  perpetuated.  They  were 
given  to  me,  that  I  might  claim  affinity  to  the  family  on  my 
arrival  in  England ;  and  it  was  the  injunction  of  my  grand- 


232  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

father  that  they  should  be  worn  on  my  person,  until  the  mo» 
ment  arrived  when  I  could  use  them." 

"  This  explains  your  not  preferring  the  claim— why  not 
prefer  the  relationship  ?" 

"  What  for,  sir  1  I  found  America  and  Americans  looked 
down  on,  in  England — colonists  spoken  of  as  a  race  of  in 
ferior  beings — of  diminished  stature,  feebler  intellects,  and  a 
waning  spirit,  as  compared  to  those  from  whom  they  had 
so  recently  sprung;  and  I  was  too  proud  to  confess  an 
affinity  where  I  saw  it  was  not  desired.  When  wounded, 
and  expecting  to  die,  I  was  landed  here,  at  my  own  request, 
with  an  intention  to  state  the  facts  ;  but,  falling  under  the 
care  of  ministering  angels," — here  Wycherly  glanced  his 
eye  at  Mildred  and  her  mother — "  I  less  felt  the  want  of 
relatives.  Sir  Wycherly  I  honoured  ;  but  he  too  mani 
festly  regarded  us  Americans  as  inferiors,  to  leave  any  wish 
to  tell  him  I  was  his  great-nephew." 

"  I  fear  we  are  not  altogether  free  from  this  reproach,  Sir 
Gervaise,"  observed  Sir  Reginald,  thoughtfully.  "  We  do  ap 
pear  to  think  there  is  something  in  the  air  of  this  part  of  the 
island,  that  renders  us  better  than  common.  Nay,  if  a 
claim  comes  from  over  water,  let  it  be  what  it  may,  it  strikes 
us  as  a  foreign  and  inadmissible  claim.  The  fate  from  which 
even  princes  are  not  exempt,  humbler  men  must  certainly 
submit  to !" 

"  I  can  understand  the  feeling,  and  I  think  it  honourable 
to  the  young  man.  Admiral  Bluewater,  you  and  1  have  had 
occasion  often  to  rebuke  this  very  spirit  in  our  young  offi 
cers  ;  and  you  will  agree  with  me  when  I  say  that  this 
gentleman  has  acted  naturally,  in  acting  as  he  has." 

"  I  must  corroborate  what  you  say,  Sir  Gervaise,"  an 
swered  Bluewater  ;  "  and,  as  one  who  has  seen  much  of  the 
colonies,  and  who  is  getting  to  be  an  old  man,  I  venture  to 
predict  that  this  very  feeling,  sooner  or  later,  will  draw  down 
upon  England  its  own  consequences,  in  the  shape  of  condign 
punishment." 

"I  don't  go  as  far  as  that,  Dick — I  don't  go  as  far  as 
that.  But  it  is  unwise  and  unsound,  and  we,  who  know  both 
hemispheres,  ought  to  set  our  faces  against  it.  We  have 
already  some  gallant  fellows  from  that  quarter  of  tho  world 
tmong  us,  and  I  hope  to  live  to  see  more." 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  233 

This,  let  it  be  remembered,  was  said  before  the  Hallowells, 
and  Coffins,  and  Brentons  of  our  own  times,  were  enrolled 
in  a  service  that  has  since  become  foreign  to  that  of  the  land 
of  their  birth ;  but  it  was  prophetic  of  their  appearance, 
and  of  that  of  many  other  high  names  from  the  colo 
nies,  in  the  lists  of  the  British  marine.  Wycherly  smiled 
proudly,  but  he  made  no  answer.  All  this  time,  Sir  Regi 
nald  had  been  musing  on  what  had  passed. 

"It  would  seem,  gentlemen,"  the  latter  now  observed, 
"  that,  contrary  to  our  belief,  there  is  an  heir  to  the  baro 
netcy,  as  well  as  to  the  estate  of  Wychecombe ;  and  all  our 
regrets  that  the  late  incumbent  did  not  live  to  execute  the 
will  we  had  drawn  at  his  request,  have  become  useless.  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe,  I  congratulate  you,  on  thus  suc 
ceeding  to  the  honours  and  estates  of  your  family ;  and,  as 
a  member  of  the  last,  I  may  be  permitted  to  congratulate  all 
of  the  name  in  being  so  worthily  represented.  For  one  of 
that  family  I  cheerfully  recognize  you  as  its  head  and  chief." 

Wycherly  bowed  his  acknowledgments,  receiving  also  the 
compliments  of  most  of  the  others  present.  Tom  Wyche 
combe,  however,  formed  an  exception,  and  instead  of  mani 
festing  any  disposition  to  submit  to  this  summary  disposal 
of  his  claims,  he  was  brooding  over  the  means  of  maintain 
ing  them.  Detecting  by  the  countenances  of  the  upper  ser 
vants  that  they  were  effectually  bribed  by  his  promise  to  pay 
the  late  baronet's  legacies,  he  felt  tolerably  confident  of  sup 
port  from  that  quarter.  He  well  knew  that  possession  was 
nine  points  of  the  law,  and  his  thoughts  naturally  turned 
towards  the  means  necessary  to  securing  this  great  ad 
vantage.  As  yet,  the  two  claimants  were  on  a  par,  in  this 
respect ;  for  while  the  executed  will  might  seem  to  give  him 
a  superior  claim,  no  authority  that  was  derived  from  an  in 
sufficient  source  would  be  deemed  available  in  law ;  and  Sir 
Wycherly  had  clearly  no  right  to  devise  Wychecombe,  so 
long  as  there  existed  an  heir  of  entail.  Both  parties,  too, 
were  merely  guests  in  the  house ;  so  that  neither  had  any 
possession  that  would  require  a  legal  process  to  eject  him. 
Tom  had  been  entered  at  the  Temple,  and  had  some  know- 
edge  of  the  law  of  the  land ;  more  especially  as  related  to 
real  estate  ;  and  he  was  aware  that  there  existed  some  quaint 
20* 


234  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

ceremony  of  taking  possession,  as  it  existed  under  the  feudal 
system ;  but  he  was  ignorant  of  the  precise  forms,  and  had 
some  reasonable  doubts  how  far  they  would  benefit  him, 
under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  this  case.  On  the  whole, 
therefore,,  he  was  disposed  to  try  the  effect  of  intimidation, 
by  means  of  the  advantages  he  clearly  possessed,  and  of 
such  little  reason  as  the  facts  connected  with  his  claim, 
allowed  him  to  offer. 

"  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,"  he  said  gravely,  and  with 
as  much  indifference  as  he  could  assume  ;  "  you  have  be 
trayed  a  facility  of  belief  in  this  American  history,  that  has 
surprised  me  in  one  with  so  high  a  reputation  for  prudence 
and  caution.  This  sudden  revival  of  the  dead  may  answer 
for  the  credulous  lovers  of  marvels,  but  it  would  hardly  do 
for  a  jury  of  twelve  sober-minded  and  sworn  men.  Admit 
ting  the  whole  of  this  gentleman's  statement  to  be  true,  how 
ever,  you  will  not  deny  the  late  Sir  Wycherly's  right  to 
make  a  will,  if  he  only  devised  his  old  shoes ;  and,  having 
this  right,  that  of  naming  his  executor  necessarily  accom 
panied  it.  Now,  sir,  I  am  clearly  that  executor,  and  as 
such  I  demand  leave  to  exercise  my  functions  in  this  house, 
as  its  temporary  master  at  least." 

"  Not  so  fast  —  not  so  fast,  young  sir.  Wills  must  be 
proved  and  executors  qualified,  before  either  has  any  validity. 
Then,  again,  Sir  Wycherly  could  only  give  authority  over 
that  which  was  his  own.  The  instant  he  ceased  to  breathe, 
his  brother  Gregory's  grandson  became  the  life-tenant  of 
this  estate,  the  house  included ;  and  I  advise  him  to  assert 
that  right,  trusting  to  the  validity  of  his  claim,  for  his  justifi 
cation  in  law,  should  it  become  necessary.  In  these  matters 
he  who  is  right  is  safe ;  while  he  who  is  wrong  must  take 
the  consequences  of  his  own  acts.  Mr.  Furlong,  your 
stewardship  ceased  with  the  life  of  your  principal ;  if  you 
have  any  keys  or  papers  to  deliver,  I  advise  your  placing 
them  in  the  hands  of  this  gentleman,  whom,  beyond  all  cavil, 
I  take  to  be  the  rightful  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe." 

Furlong  was  a  cautious,  clear-headed,  honest  man,  and 
with  every  desire  to  see  Tom  defeated,  he  was  tenacious  of 
doing  his  duty.  He  led  Sir  Reginald  aside,  therefore,  and 
examined  him,  at  some  length,  touching  the  nature  of  the 
proofs  that  had  been  offered ;  until,  quite  satisfied  that  there 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  235 

could  be  no  mistake,  he  declared  his  willingness  to  comply 
with  the  request. 

"  Certainly,  I  hold  the  keys  of  the  late  Sir  Wycherly's 
papers,-  -those  that  have  just  been  seen  in  the  search  for  the 
will,"  he  said,  "  and  have  every  wish  to  place  them  in  the 
hands  of  their  proper  owner.  Here  they  are,  Sir  Wycherly ; 
though  I  would  advise  you  to  remove  the  bags  of  gold  that 
are  in  the  secretary,  to  some  other  place  ;•  as  those  your 
uncle  had  a  right  to  bequeath  to  whom  he  saw  fit.  Every 
thing  else  in  the  secretary  goes  with  the  estate  ;  as  do  the 
plate,  furniture,  and  other  heir-looms  of  the  Hall." 

"  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Furlong,  and  I  will  first  use  these 
keys  to  follow  your  advice,"  answered  the  new  baronet ; 
"  then  I  will  return  them  to  you,  with  a  request  that  you 
will  still  retain  the  charge  of  all  your  former  duties." 

This  was  no  sooner  said  than  done ;  Wycherly  placing 
the  bags  of  gold  on  the  floor,  until  some  other  place  of  secu 
rity  could  be  provided. 

"All  that  I  legally  can,  Sir  Wycherly,  will  I  cheer 
fully  do,  in  order  to  aid  you  in  the  assertion  of  your  right ; 
though  I  do  not  see  how  I  can  transfer  more  than  I  hold. 
Quifacit  per  alium,facit  per  se,  is  good  law,  Sir  Reginald  ; 
but  the  principal  must  have  power  to  act,  before  the  deputy 
can  exercise  authority.  It  appears  to  me  that  this  is  a  case, 
in  which  each  party  stands  on  his  own  rights,  at  his  own 
peril.  The  possession  of  the  farms  is  safe  enough,  for  the 
time  being,  with  the  tenants  ;  but  as  to  the  Hall  and  Park, 
there  would  seem  to  be  no  one  in  the  legal  occupancy. 
This  makes  a  case  in  which  title  is  immediately  available." 

"  Such  is  the  law,  Mr.  Furlong,  and  I  advise  Sir  Wy 
cherly  to  take  possession  of  the  key  of  the  outer  door  at 
once,  as  master  oi'  the  tenement." 

No  sooner  was  this  opinion  given,  than  Wycherly  left  the 
room,  followed  by  all  present  to  the  hall.  Here  he  pro 
ceeded  alone  to  the  vestibule,  locked  the  great  door  of  the 
building,  and  put  the  key  in  his  pocket.  This  act  was 
steadily  performed,  and  in  a  way  to  counteract,  in  a  great 
degree,  the  effect  on  the  domestics,  of  Tom's  promises  con 
cerning  the  legacies.  At  the  same  moment,  Furlong  whis 
pered  something  in  the  ear  of  Sir  Reginald. 

"  Now  you  are  quietly  in  possession,  Sir  Wycherly,"  said 


236  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

the  latter,  smiling  ;  "  there  is  no  necessity  of  keeping  us  all 
prisoners  in  order  to  maintain  your  claims.  David,  the 
usual  porter,  Mr.  Furlong  tells  me,  is  a  faithful  servant,  and 
if  he  will  accept  of  the  key  as  your  agent,  it  may  be  returned 
to  him  with  perfect  legal  safety." 

As  David  cheerfully  assented  to  this  proposition,  the  key 
was  put  into  his  hands  again,  and  the  new  Sir  Wycherly 
was  generally  thought  to  be  in  possession.  Nor  did  Tom 
dare  to  raise  the  contemplated  question  of  his  own  legitimacy 
before  Sir  Reginald,  who,  he  had  discovered,  possessed  a 
clue  to  the  facts ;  and  he  consequently  suppressed,  for  the 
moment  at  least,  the  certificate  of  marriage  he  had  so  re 
cently  forged.  Bowing  round  to  the  whole  company,  there 
fore,  with  a  sort  of  sarcastic  compliance,  he  stalked  off  to 
his  own  room  with  the  air  of  an  injured  man.  This  left  our 
young  hero  in  possession  of  the  field  ;  but,  as  the  condition 
of  the  house  was  not  one  suitable  to  an  unreasonable  display 
of  triumph,  the  party  soon  separated  ;  some  to  consult  con 
cerning  the  future,  some  to  discourse  of  the  past,  and  all  to 
wonder,  more  or  less,  of  the  present. 


THE      TWO      ADMIRALS.  237 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

**Let  winds  be  shrill,  let  waves  roll  high 
I  fear  not  wave  nor  wind ; 
Yet  marvel  not,  Sir  Childe,  that  I 
Am  sorrowful  of  mind." 

Childe  Harold. 

"  WELL,  Sir  Jarvy,"  said  Galleygo,  following  on  the 
heels  of  the  two  admirals,  as  the  latter  entered  the  dressing- 
room  of  the  officer  addressed ;  "  it  has  turned  out  just  as  I 
thought ;  and  the  County  of  Fair-villian  has  come  out  of  his 
hole,  like  a  porpoise  coming  up  to  breathe,  the  moment  our 
backs  is  turned  !  As  soon  as  we  gives  the  order  to  square- 
away  for  England,  and  I  sees  the  old  Planter's  cabin  win 
dows  turned  upon  France,  I  foreseed  them  consequences. 
Well,  gentlemen,  here 's  been  a  heap  of  prize-money  made 
in  this  house,  without  much  fighting.  We  shall  have  to  give 
the  young  lieutenant  a  leave,  for  a  few  months,  in  order  that 
he  may  take  his  swing  ashore,  here,  among  his  brother 
squires !" 

"  Pray,  sir,  what  may  be  your  pleasure  ?"  demanded  Sir 
Gervaise ;  "  and  what  the  devil  has  brought  you  at  my 
heels?" 

"  Why,  big  ships  always  tows  small  craft,  your  honour," 
returned  Galleygo,  simpering.  "  Howsever,  I  never  comes 
without  an  errand,  as  every  body  knows.  You  see,  Sir 
Jarvy,  —  you  see,  Admiral  Blue,  that  our  signal-officer  is 
ashore,  with  a  report  for  us ;  and  meeting  me  in  the  hall,  he 
made  it  to  me  first  like,  that  I  might  bring  it  up  to  you  a'ter- 
wards.  His  news  is  that  the  French  county  is  gone  to  sea, 
as  I  has  just  told  you,  gentlemen." 

"  Can  it  be  possible  that  Bunting  has  brought  any  such 
tidings  here !  Harkee,  Galleygo ;  desire  Mr.  Bunting  to 
walk  up  ;  and  then  see  thai  you  behave  yourself  as  is  decent 
in  a  house  of  mourning." 


238  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  Ay-ay-sir.  No  fears  of  I,  gentlemen.  I  can  put  on  as 
grievous  a  look  as  the  best  on  'em,  and  if  they  wishes  to  see 
sorrow  becomingly,  and  ship-shape,  let  them  study  my  con 
duct  and  countenance.  We  has  all  seen  dead  men  afore 
now,  gentlemen,  as  we  all  knows.  When  we  fou't  Moun- 
sheer  Graveland,  (Gravelin)  we  had  forty-seven  slain,  be 
sides  the  hurt  that  lived  to  tell  their  own  pain ;  and  when  we 
had  the—" 

"  Go  to  the  devil,  Master  Galleygo,  and  desire  Mr.  Bunting 
to  walk  up  stairs,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  impatiently. 

"  Ay-ay-sir.    Which  will  your  honour  have  done  first  ?" 

"  Let  me  see  the  signal-officer,  Jirst"  answered  the  vice- 
admiral,  laughing  ;  "  then  be  certain  of  executing  the  other 
order." 

"  Well,"  muttered  Galteygo,  as  he  descended  the  stairs ; 
"  if  I  was  to  do  as  he  says,  now,  what  would  we  do  with 
the  fleet?  Ships  wants  orders  to  fight;  and  flags  wants 
food  to  give  orders  ;  and  food  wants  stewards  to  be  put  upon 
the  table j  and  stewards  wants  no  devils  to  help  'em  do 
their  duty.  No — no — Sir  Jarvy  ;  I  '11  not  pay  that  visit,  till 
we  all  goes  in  company,  as  is  suitable  for  them  that  has 
sailed  so  long  together." 

"  This  will  be  great  news,  Dick,  if  de  Vervillin  has  really 
come  out  !"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  rubbing  his  hands  with  de 
light.  "  Hang  me,  if  1  wait  for  orders  from  London  ;  but 
we  '11  sail  with  the  first  wind  and  tide.  Let  them  settle  the 
quarrel  at  home,  as  they  best  can  ;  it  is  our  business  to  catch 
the  Frenchman.  How  many  ships  do  you  really  suppose 
the  count  to  have  ?" 

"  Twelve  of  two  decks,  besides  one  three-decker,  and 
beating  us  in  frigates.  Two  or  three,  however,  are  short 
vessels,  and  cannot  be  quite  as  heavy  as  our  own.  I  see  no 
reason  why  we  should  not  engage  him." 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  you  say  so  !  How  much  more  honour 
able  is  it  to  seek  the  enemy,  than  to  be  intriguing  about  a 
court !  I  hope  you  intend  to  let  me  announce  that  red  riband 
in  general  orders  to-morrow,  Dick  ?" 

"  Never,  with  my  consent,  Sir  Gervaise,  so  long  as  the 
house  of  Hanover  confers  the  boon.  But  what  an  extraordi- 
nary  scene  we  have  just  had  below  !  This  young  lieutenant 
is  a  noble  fellow,  and  I  hope,  with  all  my  heart,  he  will  be 
enabled  to  make  good  his  claim." 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  239 

"  Of  that  Sir  Reginald  assures  me  there  can  be  no  man- 
ner  of  doubt.  His  papers  are  in  perfect  order,  and  his  story 
simple  and  probable.  Do  you  not  remember  hearing, 
when  we  were  midshipmen  in  the  West  Indies,  of  a  lieu 
tenant  of  the  Sappho's  striking  a  senior  officer,  ashore  ;  and 
of  his  having  been  probably  saved  from  the  sentence  of 
death,  by  the  loss  of  the  ship  ?" 

"  As  well  as  if  it  were  yesterday,  now  you  name  the 
vessel.  And  this  you  suppose  to  have  been  the  late  Sir 
Wycherly's  brother  ?  Did  he  belong  to  the  Sappho  ?" 

"  So  they  tell  me,  below ;  and  it  leaves  no  doubt  on  my 
mind,  of  the  truth  of  the  whole  story." 

"  It  is  a  proof,  too,  how  easy  it  is  for  one  to  return  to 
England,  and  maintain  his  rights,  after  an  absence  of  more 
than  half  a  century.  He  in  Scotland  has  a  claim  quite  as 
strong  as  that  of  this  youth  !" 

"  Dick  Bluewater,  you  seem  determined  to  pull  a  house 
down  about  your  own  ears  !  What  have  you  or  I  to  do  with 
these  Scotch  adventurers,  when  a  gallant  enemy  invites  us 
to  come  out  and  meet  him  !  But,  mum — here  is  Bunting." 

At  this  instant  the  signal-lieutenant  of  the  Plantagenet  was 
shown  into  the  room,  by  Galley  go,  in  person. 

"  Well,  Bunting ;  what  tidings  from  the  fleet  T'  demanded 
Sir  Gervaise.  ««  Do  the  ships  still  ride  to  the  flood  1" 

"  It  is  slack-water,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  the  vessels  are 
looking  all  ways  at  once.  Most  of  us  are  clearing  hawse, 
for  there  are  more  round  turns  in  our  cables,  than  I  remem 
ber  ever  to  have  seen  in  so  short  a  time." 

"  That  comes  of  there  being  no  wind,  and  the  uselessness 
of  the  staysails  and  spankers.  What  has  brought  you  ashore  ? 
Galleygo  tells  us  something  of  a  cutter's  coming  in,  with 
information  that  the  French  are  out ;  but  his  news  is  usually 
galley -news." 

"  Not  always,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  the  "ieutenant,  cast- 
ting  a  side-look  at  the  steward,^  who  often  comforted  him 
with  ship's  delicacies  in  the  admiral's  cabin  ;  "  this  time,  he 
is  right,  at  least.  The  Active  is  coming  in  slowly,  and  has 
been  signalling  us  all  the  morning.  We  make  her  out  to 
say  that  Monsieur  Vervillin  is  at  sea  with  his  whole  force." 

"  Yes,"  muttered  Galleygo  to  the  rear-admiral,  in  a  sort 
of  aside ;  "  the  County  of  Fairvillian  has  come  out  of  his 


240  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

hole,  just  as  I  told  Sir  Jarvy.  Fair-weather-villians  they 
all  is,  and  no  bones  broken." 

"  Silence — and  you  think,  Bunting,  you  read  the  signals 
clearly?" 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  Sir  Gervaise.  Captain  Greenly  is  of 
the  same  opinion,  and  has  sent  me  ashore  with  the  news. 
He  desired  me  to  tell  you  that  the  ebb  would  make  in  half 
an  hour,  and  that  we  can  then  fetch  past  the  rocks  to  the 
westward,  light  as  the  wind  is." 

"  Ay,  that  is  Greenly,  I  can  swear ! — He  '11  not  sit  down 
until  we  are  all  aweigh,  and  standing  out.  Does  the  cutter 
tell  us  which  way  the  count  was  looking  ?" 

"  To  the  westward,  sir ;  on  an  easy  bowline,  and  under 
short  canvass." 

"  The  gentleman  is  in  no  hurry,  it  would  seem.  Has  he 
a  convoy  ?" 

"  Not  a  sail,  sir.  Nineteen  sail,  all  cruisers,  and  only 
twelve  of  the  line.  He  has  one  two-decker,  and  two  frigates 
more  than  we  can  muster ;  just  a  Frenchman's  odds,  sir." 

"  The  count  has  certainly  with  him,  the  seven  new  ships 
that  were  built  last  season,"  quietly  observed  Bluewater, 
leaning  back  in  his  easy-chair,  until  his  body  inclined  at  an 
angle  of  forty-five  degrees,  and  stretching  a  leg  on  an 
empty  stand,  in  his  usual  self-indulgent  manner.  "  They 
are  a  little  heavier  than  their  old  vessels,  and  will  give  us 
harder  work." 

"  The  tougher  the  job,  the  more  creditable  the  workman 
ship.  The  tide  is  turning  you  say,  Bunting?" 

"  It  is,  Sir  Gervaise ;  and  we  shall  all  tend  ebb,  in  twenty 
minutes.  The  frigates  outside  are  riding  down  channel 
already.  The  Chloe  seems  to  think  that  we  shall  be  moving 
soon,  as  she  has  crossed  top-gallant  and  royal-yards.  Even 
Captain  Greenly  was  thinking  of  stretching  along  the  mes 
senger." 

"  Ah  !  you  're  a  set  of  uneasy  fellows,  all  round  ! — You 
tire  of  your  native  land  in  twenty-four  hours,  I  find.  Well, 
Mr.  Bunting ;  you  can  go  off,  and  say  that  all  is  very  well. 
This  house  is  in  a  sad  state  of  confusion,  as,  I  presume  you 
know.  Mention  this  to  Captain  Greenly." 

"Ay-ay-sir;  is  it  your  pleasure  I  should  tell  him  any 
thing  else,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  ?" 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  241 

"Why  —  yes —  Bunting,"  answered  the  vice-admiral, 
smiling  ;  "  you  may  as  well  give  him  a  hint  to  get  all  his 
fresh  grub  off,  as  fast  as  he  can — and — yes ;  to  let  no  more 
men  quit  the  ship  on  liberty." 

"  Anything  more,  Sir  Gervaise  ?"  added  the  pertinacious 
officer. 

"  On  the  whole,  you  may  as  well  run  up  a  signal  to  be 
ready  to  unmoor.  The  ships  can  very  well  ride  at  single 
anchors,  when  the  tide  has  once  fairly  made.  What  say 
you,  Bluewater  ?" 

"  A  signal  to  unmoor,  at  once,  would  expedite  matters. 
You  know  very  well,  you  intend  to  go  to  sea,  and  why  not 
do  the  thing  off-hand  ?" 

"  I  dare  say,  now,  Bunting,  you  too  would  like  to  give  the 
Commander-in-chief  a  nudge  of  some  sort  or  other." 

"  If  I  could  presume  so  far,  Sir  Gervaise.  I  can  only 
say,  sir,  that  the  sooner  we  are  off,  the  sooner  we  shall  flog 
the  French." 

"  And  Master  Galley  go,  what  are  your  sentiments,  on 
this  occasion  1  It  is  a  full  council,  and  all  ought  to  speak, 
freely." 

"  You  knows,  Sir  Jarvy,  that  I  never  speaks  in  these 
matters,  unless  spoken  to.  Admiral  Blue  and  your  honour 
are  quite  enough  to  take  care  of  the  fleet  in  most  circum 
stances,  though  there  is  some  knowledge  in  the  tops,  as  well 
as  in  the  cabin.  My  ideas  is,  gentlemen,  that,  by  casting 
to  starboard  on  this  ebb  tide,  we  shall  all  have  our  heads 
off-shore,  and  we  shall  fetch  into  the  offing  as  easily  as  a 
country  wench  turns  in  a  jig.  What  we  shall  do  with  the 
fleet,  when  we  gets  out,  will  be  shown  in  our  ultra  move 
ments." 

By  "  ultra,"  David  meant  "  ulterior,"  a  word  he  had 
caught  up  from  hearing  despatches  read,  which  he  understood 
no  better  than  those  who  wrote  them  at  the  admiralty. 

"  Thanks  to  you  all,  my  friends !"  cried  Sir  Gervaise, 
who  was  so  delighted  at  the  prospect  of  a  general  engage 
ment,  that  he  felt  a  boyish  pleasure  in  this  fooling  ;  "  and 
now  to  business,  seriously.  Mr.  Bunting,  I  would  have  the 
signal  for  sailing  shown.  Let  each  ship  fire  a  recall-gun 
for  her  boats.  Half  an  hour  later,  show  the  bunting  to  un 
moor  ;  and  send  my  boat  ashore  as  soon  as  you  begin  to 
21 


242  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

heave  on  the  capstan.     So,  good-morning,  my  fine  fellow, 
and  show  your  activity." 

"  Mr.  Bunting,  as  you  pass  the  Caesar,  do  me  the  favour 
to  ask  for  my  boat,  also,"  said  Bluewater,  lazily,  but  half- 
raising  his  body  to  look  after  the  retiring  lieutenant.  "  If 
we  are  to  move,  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  go  with  the  rest 
of  them.  Of  course  we  shall  repeat  all  your  signals." 

Sir  Gervaise  waited  until  Bunting  was  out  of  the  room, 
when  he  turned  to  the  steward,  and  said  with  some  dryness 
of  manner — 

"  Mr.  Galleygo,  you  have  my  permission  to  go  on  board, 
bag  and  baggage." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Jarvy,  I  understands.  We  are  about  to  get  the 
ships  under  way,  and  good  men  ought  to  be  in  their  places. 
Good-by,  Admiral  Blue.  We  shall  meet  before  the  face  of 
the  French,  and  then  I  expects  every  man  on  us  will  set  an 
example  to  himself  of  courage  and  devotion." 

"  That  fellow  grows  worse  and  worse,  each  day,  and  I 
shall  have  to  send  him  forward,  in  order  to  check  his  im 
pertinence,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  half-vexed  and  half-laughing. 
"  I  wonder  you  stand  his  saucy  familiarity  as  well  as  you 
appear  to  do — with  his  Admiral  Blues  !" 

"  I  shall  take  offence  as  soon  as  I  find  Sir  Jarvy  really 
out  of  humour  with  him.  The  man  is  brave,  honest,  and 
attached;  and  these  are  virtues  that  would  atone  for  a 
hundred  faults." 

"  Let  the  fellow  go  to  the  devil ! — Do  you  not  think  I  had 
better  go  out,  without  waiting  for  despatches  from  town  1" 

"  It  is  hard  to  say.  Your  orders  may  send  us  all  down 
into  Scotland,  to  face  Charles  Stuart.  Perhaps,  too,  they 
may  make  you  a  duke,  and  me  a  baron,  in  order  to  secure 
our  fidelity  !" 

"  The  blackguards  ! — well,  say  no  more  of  that,  just  now. 
If  M.  de  Vervillin  is  steering  to  the  westward,  he  can  hardly 
be  aiming  at  Edinburgh,  and  the  movements  in  the  north." 

"  That  is  by  no  means  so  certain.  Your  really  politic  fel 
lows  usually  look  one  way  and  steer  another." 

"  It  is  my  opinion,  that  his  object  is  to  effect  a  diversion, 
and  my  wish  is  to  give  it  to  him,  to  his  heart's  content.  So 
long  as  this  force  is  kept  near  the  chops  of  the  channel,  it 
can  do  no  harm  in  the  north,  and,  in-so-much,  must  leave 
the  road  to  Germany  opori." 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  243 

"  For  one,  I  think  it  a  pity — not  to  say  a  disgrace — that 
England  cannot  settle  her  own  quarrels  without  calling  in 
the  aid  of  either  Frenchman  or  Dutchman." 

"  We  must  take  the  world  as  it  is,  Dick,  and  act  like  two 
straight-forward  seamen,  without  stopping  to  talk  politics. 
(  take  it  for  granted,  notwithstanding  your  Stuart  fervour, 
that  you  are  willing  enough  to  help  me  thresh  Monsieur  de 
Vervillin  ?" 

"  Beyond  a  question.  Nothing  but  the  conviction  that  he 
was  directly  employed  in  serving  my  natural  and  legitimate 
prince,  could  induce  me  to  show  him  any  favour.  Still, 
Oakes,  it  is  possible  he  may  have  succours  for  the  Scotch 
on  board,  and  be  bound  to  the  north  by  the  way  of  the  Irish 
channel!" 

"  Ay,  pretty  succours,  truly,  for  an  Englishman  to  sto 
mach  !  Mousquetaires,  and  regiments  de  Croy,  or  de  Dillon, 
or  some  d d  French  name  or  other ;  and,  perhaps,  beau 
tiful  muskets  from  the  Bois  de  Vincennes;  or  some  other 
infernal  nest  of  Gallic  inventions  to  put  down  the  just  as 
cendency  of  old  England  !  No — no — Dick  Bluewater,  your 
excellent,  loyal,  true-hearted  English  mother,  never  bore 
you,  to  be  a  dupe  of  Bourbon  perfidy  and  trick.  I  dare  say 
she  sickened  at  the  very  name  of  Louis !" 

"  I  '11  not  answer  for  that,  Sir  Jarvy,"  returned  the  rear- 
admiral,  with  a  vacant  smile  ;  "  for  she  passed  some  time 
at  the  court  of  le  Grand  Monarque.  But  all  this  is  idle  ; 
we  know  each  other's  opinions,  and,  by  this  time,  ought  to 
know  each  other's  characters.  Have  you  digested  any  plan 
for  your  future  operations ;  and  what  part  am  I  to  play  in 
it?" 

Sir  Gervaise  paced  the  room,  with  hands  folded  behind 
his  back,  in  an  air  of  deep  contemplation,  for  quite  five 
minutes,  before  he  answered.  All  this  time,  Bluewater  re 
mained  watching  his  countenance  and  movements,  in  antici 
pation  of  what  was  to  come.  At  length,  the  vice-ad mirnl 
appeared  to  have  made  up  his  mind,  and  he  delivered  him 
self  of  his  decision,  as  follows. 

"  I  have  reflected  on  them,  Dick,"  he  said,  "  even  while 
my  thoughts  have  seemed  to  be  occupied  with  the  concerns 
of  others.  If  de  Vervillin  is  out,  he  must  still  be  to  the  east 
ward  of  us ;  for,  running  as  the  tides  do  on  the  French  coast, 


244  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

he  can  hardly  have  made  much  westing  with  this  light 
south-west  wind.  We  are  yet  uncertain  of  his  destination, 
and  it  is  all-important  that  we  get  immediate  sight  of  him, 
and  keep  him  in  view,  until  he  can  be  brought  to  action. 
Now,  my  plan  is  this.  I  will  send  out  the  ships  in  succes 
sion,  with  orders  to  keep  on  an  easy  bowline,  until  each 
reaches  the  chops  of  the  channel,  when  she  is  to  go  about 
and  stand  in  towards  the  English  coast.  Each  succeeding 
vessel,  however,  will  weigh  as  soon  as  her  leader  is  hull 
down,  and  keep  within  signal  distance,  in  order  to  send  in 
telligence  through  the  whole  line.  Nothing  will  be  easier 
than  to  keep  in  sight  of  each  other,  in  such  fine  weather ; 
and  by  these  means  we  shall  spread  a  wide  clew, — quite  a 
hundred  miles, — and  command  the  whole  of  the  channel. 
As  soon  as  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  made,  the  fleet  can 
close,  and  then  we  will  be  governed  by  circumstances. 
Should  we  see  nothing  of  the  French,  by  the  time  we  make 
their  coast,  we  may  be  certain  they  have  gone  up  channel ; 
and  then,  a  signal  from  the  van  can  reverse  the  order  of 
sailing,  and  we  will  chase  to  the  eastward,  closing  to  a  line 
abreast  as  fast  as  possible. 

"  All  this  is  very  well,  certainly ;  and  by  means  of  the 
frigates  and  smaller  cruisers  we  can  easily  sweep  a  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  of  ocean ; — nevertheless,  the  fleet  will  be 
much  scattered." 

"  You  do  not  think  there  will  be  any  danger  of  the 
French's  engaging  the  van,  before  the  rear  can  close  to  aid 
it  ?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  with  interest,  for  he  had  the  pro- 
foundest  respect  for  his  friend's  professional  opinions.  "  I 
intended  to  lead  out  in  the  Plantagenet,  myself,  and  to  have 
five  or  six  of  the  fastest  ships  next  to  me,  with  a  view  that 
we  might  keep  off,  until  you  could  bring  up  the  rear.  If 
they  chase,  you  know  we  can  retire." 

"  Beyond  a  doubt,  if  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  can  make  up  his 
mind  to  retire,  before  any  Frenchman  who  was  ever  born," 
returned  Bluewater,  laughing.  "  All  this  sounds  well ;  but, 
in  the  event  of  a  meeting,  I  should  expect  to  find  you,  with 
the  whole  van  dismasted,  fighting  your  hulks  like  bull-dogs, 
and  keeping  the  Count  at  bay,  leaving  the  glory  of  covering 
your  retreat  to  me." 

"  No — no — Dick :  I  '11  give  you  my  honour  I  '11  do  no- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  245 

thing  so  boyish  and  silly.  I  'm  a  different  man  at  fifty-five, 
from  what  I  was  at  twenty-five.  You  may  be  certain  that 
I  will  run,  until  I  think  myself  strong  enough  to  fight." 

"  Will  you  allow  me  to  make  a  suggestion,  Admiral 
Oakes  ,•  and  this  with  all  the  frankness  that  ought  to  charac 
terize  our  ancient  friendship  ?" 

Sir  Gervaise  stopped  short  in  his  walk,  looked  Bluewater 
steadily  in  the  face,  and  nodded  his  head. 

"  I  understand  by  the  expression  of  your  countenance," 
continued  the  other,  "  that  I  am  expected  to  speak.  I  had 
no  more  to  say,  than  to  make  the  simple  suggestion  that 
your  plan  would  be  most  likely  to  be  executed,  were  /  to 
lead  the  van,  and  were  you  to  bring  up  the  rear." 

"  The  devil  you  do ! — This  comes  as  near  mutiny — or 
scandalum  magnatum — as  one  can  wish  !  And  why  do  you 
suppose  that  the  plan  of  the  commander-in-chief  will  be  least 
in  danger  of  failing,  if  Admiral  Bluewater  lead  on  this  occa 
sion,  instead  of  Admiral  Oakes?" 

"  Merely  because  I  think  Admiral  Oakes,  when  an  enemy 
is  pressing  him,  is  more  apt  to  take  counsel  of  his  heart 
than  of  his  head ;  while  Admiral  Bluewater  is  not.  You  do 
not  know  yourself,  Sir  Jarvy,  if  you  think  it  so  easy  a 
matter  to  run  away." 

"  I  've  spoiled  you,  Dick,  by  praising  your  foolish  ma 
noeuvring  so  much  before  your  face,  and  that 's  the  whole 
truth  of  the  matter.  No — my  mind  is  made  up  ;  and,  I  be 
lieve  you  know  me  well  enough  to  feel  sure,  when  that  is 
the  case,  even  a  council  of  war  could  not  move  it.  /  lead 
out,  in  the  first  two-decked  ship  that  lifts  her  anchor,  and 
you  follow  in  the  last.  You  understand  my  plan,  and  will 
see  it  executed,  as  you  see  everything  executed,  in  face  of 
the  enemy." 

Admiral  Bluewater  smiled,  and  not  altogether  without 
irony  in  his  manner ;  though  he  managed,  at  the  same  time, 
to  get  the  leg  that  had  been  lowest  for  the  last  five  minutes, 
raised  by  an  ingenuity  peculiar  to  himself,  several  inches 
above  its  fellow. 

"  Nature  never  made  you  for  a  conspirator,  Oakes,"  he 
said,  as  soon  as  this  change  was  effected  to  his  mind  ;  "  for 
you  carry  a  *op-Iight  in  your  breast  that  even  the  blind  can 
seel" 

21  * 


246  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  What  crotchet  is  uppermost  in  your  mind,  now,  Dick  ? 
Ar'n't  the  orders  plain  enough  to  suit  you  ?" 

"  I  confess  it ; — as  well  as  the  motive  for  giving  them  just 
in  this  form." 

"  Let 's  have  it,  at  once.  I  prefer  a  full  broadside  to  your 
minute-guns.  What  is  my  motive  ?" 

"  Simply  that  you,  Sir  Jarvy,  say  to  a  certain  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  Oakes,  Bart.,  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Red,  and  Member 
for  Rowldero,  in  your  own  mind,  '  now,  if  I  can  just,  leave 
that  fellow.  Dick  Bluewater,  behind  me,  with  four  or  five 
ships,  he  '11  never  desert  me,  when  in  front  of  the  enemy, 
whatever  he  might  do  with  King  George;  and  so  I  '11  make 
sure  of  him  by  placing  the  question  in  such  a  light  that  it 
shall  be  one  of  friendship,  rather  than  one  of  loyalty.'  " 

Sir  Gervaise  coloured  to  the  temples,  for  the  other  had 
penetrated  into  his  most  secret  thoughts;  and,  yet,  spite  of  his 
momentary  vexation,  he  faced  his  accuser,  and  both  laughed 
in  the  heart-felt  manner  that  the  circumstance  would  be 
likely  to  excite. 

"  Hearkee,  Dick,"  said  the  vice-admiral,  as  soon  as  he 
could  command  sufficient  gravity  to  speak ;  "  they  made  a 
mistake  when  they  sent  you  to  sea ;  you  ought  to  have 
been  apprenticed  to  a  conjuror.  I  care  not  what  you  think 
about  it ;  my  orders  are  given,  and  they  must  be  obeyed. 
Have  you  a  clear  perception  of  the  plan  ?" 

"  One  quite  as  clear,  I  tell  you,  as  I  have  of  the  motive." 

"  Enough  of  this,  Bluewater ;  we  have  serious  duties  be 
fore  us." 

Sir  Gervaise  now  entered  more  at  length  into  his  scheme  ; 
explaining  to  his  friend  all  his  wishes  and  hopes,  and  letting 
him  know,  with  official  minuteness,  what  was  expected  at 
his  hands.  The  rear-admiral  listened  with  his  accustomed 
respect,  whenever  anything  grave  was  in  discussion  between 
them  ;  and,  had  any  one  entered  while  they  were  thus 
engaged,  he  would  have  seen  in  the  manner  of  one,  nothing 
but  the  dignified  frankness  of  a  friendly  superior,  and  in  the 
other  the  deference  which  the  naval  inferior  usually  pays  to 
rank.  As  he  concluded  Sir  Gervaise  rang  his  bell,  and 
desired  the  presence  of  Sir  WTycherly  Wychecombe. 

"  I  could  have  wished  to  remain  and  see  this  battle  for 
the  succession  fairly  fought,"  he  said  •  "  but  a  battle  of  a  dif- 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  247 

ferent  sort  calls  us  in  another  quarter.  Show  him  in,"  he 
added,  as  his  man  intimated  that  the  young  baronet  was  in 
waiting. 

"  What  between  the  duties  of  our  professional  stations, 
and  those  of  the  guest  to  the  host,"  said  the  vice-admiral, 
rising  and  bowing  to  the  young  man  ;  "  it  is  not  easy  to 
settle  the  question  of  etiquette  between  us,  Sir  Wycherly  ; 
and  I  have,  from  habit,  thought  more  of  the  admiral  and  the 
lieutenant,  than  of  the  lord  of  the  manor  and  his  obliged 
guests.  If  I  have  erred,  you  will  excuse  me." 

"  My  new  situation  is  so  very  novel,  that  I  still  remain  all 
sailor,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  other,  smiling ;  "  as 
such  1  hope  you  will  ever  consider  me.  Can  I  be  of  any 
service,  here  ?" 

"  One  of  our  cutters  has  just  come  in  with  news  that  will 
take  the  fleet  to  sea,  again,  this  morning ;  or,  as  soon  as 
the  tide  begins  to  run  a  strong  ebb.  The  French  are  out, 
and  we  must  go  and  look  for  them.  It  was  my  intention 
and  my  hope,  to  be  able  to  take  you  to  sea  with  me  in  the 
Plantagenet.  The  date  of  your  commission  would  not  put 
you  very  high  among  her  lieutenants  ;  but,  Bunting  deserves 
a  first  lieutenantcy,  and  I  meant  to  give  it  to  him  this  after 
noon,  in  which  case  there  would  be  a  vacancy  in  the  situa 
tion  of  my  own  signal-officer,  a  duty  you  could  well  perform. 
As  it  is,  you  ought  not  to  quit  this  house,  and  I  must  take 
my  leave  of  you  with  regret  it  is  so." 

"  Admiral  Oakes,  what  is  there  that  ought  to  keep  one  of 
my  station  ashore,  on  the  eve  of  a  general  battle  ?  I  sin 
cerely  hope  and  trust  you  will  alter  the  last  determination, 
and  return  to  the  first." 

"  You  forget  your  own  important  interests — remember 
that  possession  is  nine  points  of  the  law." 

"  We  had  heard  the  news  below,  and  Sir  Reginald,  Mr. 
Furlong,  and  myself,  were  discussing  the  matter  when  I 
received  your  summons.  . These  gentlemen  tell  me,  that 
possession  can  be  held  by  deputy,  as  well  as  in  person.  I 
am  satisfied  we  can  dispose  of  this  objection." 

"  Your  grandfather's  brother,  and  the  late  head  of  your 
family,  lies  dead  in  this  house;  it  is  proper  his  successor 
should  be  present  at  his  funeral  obsequies." 

"  We  thought  of  that,  also.     Sir  Reginald  has   kindly 


248  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

offered  to  appear  in  my  place ;  and,  then,  there  is  the  chance 
that  the  meeting  with  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  will  take  place 
within  the  next  eight-and-forty  hours ;  whereas  my  undo 
cannot  be  interred  certainly  for  a  week  or  ten  days." 

"  I  see  you  have  well  calculated  all  the  chances,  young 
sir,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling.  "  Bluewater,  how  does 
this  matter  strike  you  ?" 

"  Leave  it  in  my  hands,  and  I  will  see  to  it.  You  will 
sail  near  or  quite  twenty-four  hours  before  me,  and  there 
will  be  time  for  more  reflection.  Sir  Wycherly  can  remain 
with  me  in  the  Csesar,  in  the  action ;  or  he  can  be  thrown 
aboard  the  Plantagenet,  when  we  meet." 

After  a  little  reflection,  Sir  Gervaise,  who  liked  to  give 
every  one  a  fair  chance,  consented  to  the  arrangement,  and 
it  was  decided  that  Wycherly  should  come  out  in  the  Csesar, 
if  nothing  occurred  to  render  the  step  improper. 

This  arrangement  completed,  the  vice-admiral  declared 
he  was  ready  to  quit  the  Hall.  Galleygo  and  the  other 
servants  had  already  made  the  dispositions  necessary  for 
embarking,  and  it  only  remained  to  take  leave  of  the  in 
mates  of  the  dwelling.  The  parting  between  the  baronets 
was  friendly  ;  for  the  common  interest  they  felt  in  the  suc 
cess  of  Wycherly,  had,  in  a  degree,  rendered  them  intimates, 
and  much  disposed  Sir  Reginald  to  overlook  the  sailor's 
well-known  Whiggery.  Dutton  and  the  ladies  took  their 
departure  at  the  same  time,  and  what  passed  between  them 
and  Sir  Gervaise  on  this  occasion,  took  place  on  the  road 
to  the  head-land,  whither  all  parties  proceeded  on  foot. 

A  person  so  important  as  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  did  not 
leave  the  roof  that  had  sheltered  him,  to  embark  on  board 
his  own  ship,  without  a  due  escort  to  the  shore.  Bluewater 
accompanied  him,  in  order  to  discuss  any  little  point  of 
duty  that  might  occur  to  the  mind  of  either,  at  the  last  mo 
ment  ;  and  Wycherly  was  of  the  group,  partly  from  pro 
fessional  feeling,  and  more  from  a  desire  to  be  near  Mildred. 
Then  there  were  Atwood,  and  the  surgeons,  Mr.  Rother- 
ham,  and  two  or  three  of  the  cabin  attendants.  Lord 
Geoffrey,  too,  strolled  along  with  the  rest,  though  it  was 
understood  that  his  own  ship  would  not  sail  that  day. 

Just  as  the  party  issued  from  the  gate  of  the  park  into 
tho  street  of  the  hamlet,  a  heavy  gun  was  fired  from  the 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  249 

fleet.  It  was  soon  succeeded  by  others,  and  whiffs  and 
cornets  were  seen  flying  from  the  mast-heads  that  rose  above 
the  openings  in  the  cliffs,  the  signal  of  recall  for  all  boats. 
This  set  every  one  in  motion,  and,  never  within  the  memory 
of  man,  had  Wychecombe  presented  such  a  scene  of  confu 
sion  and  activity.  Half-intoxicated  seamen  were  driven 
down  to  the  boats,  by  youngsters  with  the  cloth  diamond  in 
their  collars,  like  swine,  who  were  reluctant  to  go,  and  yet 
afraid  to  stay.  Quarters  of  beeves  were  trundled  along  in 
carts  or  barrows,  and  were  soon  seen  swinging  at  different 
main-stays  ;  while  the  gathering  of  eggs,  butter,  poultry, 
mutton,  lamb,  and  veal,  menaced  the  surrounding  country 
with  a  scarcity.  Through  this  throng  of  the  living  and  the 
dead,  our  party  held  its  way,  jostled  by  the  eager  country 
men,  and  respectfully  avoided  by  all  who  belonged  to  the 
fleet,  until  it  reached  the  point  where  the  roads  to  the  cliffs 
and  the  landing  separated,  when  the  vice-admiral  turned  to 
the  only  midshipman  present,  and  courteously  lifting  his  hat, 
as  if  reluctant  to  impose  such  a  duty  on  a  "  young  gentle 
man"  on  liberty,  he  said — 

"  Do  me  the  favour,  Lord  Geoffrey,  to  step  down  to  the 
landing  and  ascertain  if  my  barge  is  there.  The  officer  of 
the  boat  will  find  me  at  the  signal-station." 

The  boy  cheerfully  complied  ;  and  this  son  of  an  English 
duke,  who,  by  the  death  of  an  elder  brother,  became  in  time 
a  duke  himself,  went  on  a  service  that  among  gentlemen  of 
the  land  would  be  deemed  nearly  menial,  with  as  much 
alacrity  as  if  he  felt  honoured  by  the  request.  It  was  by  a 
training  like  this,  that  England  came,  in  time,  to  possess  a 
marine  that  has  achieved  so  many  memorable  deeds ;  since 
it  taught  those  who  were  destined  to  command,  the  high  and 
useful  lesson  how  to  obey. 

While  the  midshipman  was  gone  to  look  for  the  boat,  the 
two  admirals  walked  the  cliff,  side  by  side,  discussing  their 
future  movements ;  and  when  all  was  ready,  Sir  Gervaise 
descended  to  the  shore,  using  the  very  path  by  which  he 
had  ascended  the  previous  day ;  and,  pushing  through  the 
throng  that  crowded  the  landing,  almost  too  much  engaged 
to  heed  even  his  approach,  he  entered  his  barge.  In  another 
minute,  the  measured  strokes  of  the  oars  urged  him  swiftly 
towards  the  Plantagenet. 


250  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

tt  *T  was  not  without  some  reason,  for  the  wind 
Increas'd  at  night,  until  it  blew  a  gale ; 
And  though  't  was  not  much  to  a  naval  mind, 
Some  landsmen  would  have  look'd  a  little  pale, 
For  sailors  are,  in  fact,  a  different  kind : 
At  sunset  they  began  to  take  in  sail, 
For  the  sky  show'd  it  would  come  on  to  blow, 
And  carry  away,  perhaps,  a  mast  or  so." 

BYRON. 

As  it  was  just  past  the  turn  of  the  day,  Bluewater  deter 
mined  to  linger  on  the  cliffs  for  several  hours,  or  until  it  was 
time  to  think  of  his  dinner.  Abstracted  as  his  thoughts 
were  habitually,  his  mind  found  occupation  and  pleasure  in 
witnessing  the  evolutions  that  succeeded  among  the  ships ; 
some  of  which  evolutions  it  may  be  well  now  briefly  to  re 
late. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes'  foot  had  not  been  on  the  deck  of  the 
Plantagenet  five  minutes,  before  a  signal  for  all  commanders 
was  flying  at  that  vessel's  mast-head.  In  ten  minutes  more 
every  captain  of  the  fleet,  with  the  exception  of  those  belong 
ing  to  the  vessels  in  the  offing,  were  in  the  flag-ship's  cabin, 
listening  to  the  intentions  and  instructions  of  the  vice-ad 
miral. 

"  My  plan  of  sailing,  gentlemen,  is  easily  comprehended," 
continued  the  commander-in-chief,  after  he  had  explained 
his  general  intentions  to  chase  and  engage  ;  "  and  every 
one  of  you  will  implicitly  follow  it.  We  have  the  tide  strong 
at  ebb,  and  a  good  six-knot  breeze  is  coming  up  at  south 
west.  I  shall  weigh,  with  my  yards  square,  and  keep  them 
so,  until  the  ship  has  drawn  out  of  the  fleet,  and  then  I  shall 
luff  up  on  a  taut  bowline  and  on  the  starboard  tack,  bringing 
the  ebb  well  under  my  lee-bow.  This  will  hawse  the  ship 
over  towards  Morlaix,  and  bring  us  quite  as  far  to  wind- 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  251 

ward  as  is  desirable.  While  the  ebb  lasts,  and  this  breeze 
stands,  we  shall  have  plain  sailing ;  the  difficulty  will  come 
on  the  flood,  or  with  a  shift  of  wind.  The  ships  that  come 
out  last  must  be  careful  to  keep  their  seconds,  ahead  and 
astern,  in  plain  sight,  and  regulate  their  movements,  as  much 
as  they  can,  by  the  leading  vessels.  The  object  is  to  spread 
as  wide  a  clew  as  possible,  while  we  hold  the  ships  within 
signal-distance  of  each  other.  Towards  sunset  I  shall 
shorten  sail,  and  the  line  will  close  up  within  a  league  from 
vessel  to  vessel,  and  I  have  told  Bluewater  to  use  his  dis 
cretion  about  coming  out  with  the  last  ships,  though  I  have 
requested  him  to  hold  on  as  long  as  he  shall  deem  it  pru 
dent,  in  the  hope  of  receiving  another  express  from  the  Ad 
miralty.  When  the  flood  makes,  I  do  not  intend  to  go 
about,  but  shall  continue  on  the  starboard  tack,  and  I  wish 
you  all  to  do  the  same.  This  will  bring  the  leading  vessels 
considerably  to  windward  of  those  astern,  and  may  possibly 
throw  the  fleet  into  a  bow  and  quarter  line.  Being  in  the 
van,  it  will  fall  to  my  duty  to  look  to  this,  and  to  watch  for 
the  consequences.  But  I  ask  of  you  to  keep  an  eye  on  the 
weather,  and  to  hold  your  ships  within  plain  signal-distance 
of  each  other.  If  it  come  on  thick,  or  to  blow  very  hard,  we 
must  close,  from  van  to  rear,  and  try  our  luck,  in  a  search 
in  compact  order.  Let  the  man  who  first  sees  the  enemy 
make  himself  heard  at  once,  and  send  the  news,  with  the 
bearings  of  the  French,  both  ahead  and  astern,  as  fast  as 
possible.  In  that  case  you  will  all  close  on  the  point  from 
which  the  intelligence  comes ;  and,  mark  me,  no  cruising 
to  get  to  windward,  in  your  own  fashions,  as  if  you  sailed 
with  roving  commissions.  You  know  I  '11  not  stand  that. 
And  now,  gentlemen,  it  is  probable  that  we  shall  all  never 
meet  again.  God  bless  you  !  Come  and  shake  hands  with 
me,  one  by  one,  and  then  to  your  boats,  for  the  first  lieu 
tenant  has  just  sent  Greenly  word  that  we  are  up  and  down. 
Let  him  trip,  Greenly,  and  be  off  as  soon  as  we  can." 

The  leave-taking,  a  scene  in  which  joyousness  and  sad 
ness  were  strangely  mingled,  succeeded,  and  then  the  cap 
tains  disappeared.  From  that  moment  every  mind  was  bent 
on  sailing. 

Although  Bluewater  did  not  witness  the  scene  in  the  PIan« 


252  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

r.agenet's  cabin,  he  pictured  it,  in  his  mind's  eye,  and  re 
mained  on  the  cliffs  to  watch  the  succeeding  movements. 
As  Wycherly  had  disappeared  in  the  house,  and  Dutton 
clung  to  his  flag-staff,  the  rear-admiral  had  no  one  but  Lord 
Geoffrey  for  a  companion.  The  latter,  perceiving  that  his 
relation  did  not  seem  disposed  to  converse,  had  the  tact  to 
be  silent  himself;  a  task  that  was  less  difficult  than  com 
mon,  on  account  of  the  interest  he  felt  in  the  spectacle. 

The  boats  of  the  different  captains  were  still  shoving  off 
from  the  starboard  side  of  the  Plantagenet,  whither  etiquette 
had  brought  them  together,  in  a  little  crowd,  when  her 
three  topsails  fell,  and  their  sheets  steadily  drew  the  clews 
towards  the  ends  of  the  lower  yards.  Even  while  this 
was  in  process,  the  yards  began  fo  ascend,  and  rose  with 
that  steady  but  graduated  movement  which  marks  the  ope 
ration  in  a  man-of-war.  All  three  were  fairly  mast-headed 
in  two  minutes.  As  the  wind  struck  the  canvass  obliquely, 
the  sails  filled  as  they  opened  their  folds,  and,  by  the  time 
their  surfaces  were  flattened  by  distension,  the  Plantagenet 
steadily  moved  from  her  late  berth,  advancing  slowly 
against  a  strong  tide,  out  of  the  group  of  ships,  among 
which  she  had  been  anchored.  This  was  a  beautiful  evo 
lution,  resembling  that  of  a  sea-fowl,  which  lazily  rises  on 
its  element,  spreads  its  wings,  emerges  from  the  water,  and 
glides  away  to  some  distant  and  unseen  point. 

The  movement  of  the  flag-ship  was  stately,  measured, 
and  grand.  For  five  minutes  she  held  her  way  nearly  due 
east,  with  the  wind  on  her  starboard  quarter,  meeting  the 
tide  in  a  direct  line;  until,  having  drawn  sufficiently  ahead 
of  the  fleet,  she  let  fall  her  courses,  sheeted  home  topgallant- 
sails  and  royals,  set  her  spanker,  jibs  and  staysails,  and 
braced  up  sharp  on  a  wind,  with  her  head  at  south-south 
east.  This  brought  the  tide  well  under  her  lee  fore-chains, 
and  set  her  rapidly  off  the  land,  and  to  windward.  As  she 
trimmed  her  sails,  and  steadied  her  bowlines,  she  fired  a 
gun,  made  the  numbers  of  the  vessels  in  the  offing  to  weigh, 
and  to  pass  within  hail.  All  this  did  Bluewater  note,  with 
the  attention  of  an  amateur -,  as  well  as  with  the  critical 
analysis  of  a  comioisseur. 

"Very  bundsomely  done,  Master  Geoffrey — very  hand- 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  253 

somely  done,  it  must  be  allowed  !  never  did  a  bird  quit  a 
flock  with  less  fuss,  or  more  beautifully,  than  the  Plantage- 
net  has  drawn  out  of  the  fleet.  It  must  be  admitted  that 
Greenly  knows  how  to  handle  his  ship." 

"  I  fancy  Captain  Stowel  would  have  done  quite  as  well 
with  the  Ctesar,  sir,"  answered  the  boy,  with  a  proper 
esprit-de-sMp.  "  Don't  you  remember,  Admiral  Bluewater, 
the  time  when  we  got  under  way  off  1'Orient,  with  the  wind 
blowing  a  gale  directly  on  shore?  Even  Sir  Gervaise  said, 
afterwards,  that  we  lost  less  ground  than  any  ship  in  the 
fleet,  and  yet  the  Plantagenet  is  the  most  weatherly  two- 
decker  in  the  navy ;  as  everybody  says." 

"  Everybody  ! — She  is  certainly  a  weatherly  vessel,  but 
not  more  so  than  several  others.  Whom  did  you  ever  hear 
give  that  character  to  this  particular  ship  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  her  reefers  are  always  bragging  as  much  as 
that ;  and  a  great  deal  more,  too." 

"  Her  reefers  ! — Young  gentlemen  are  particularly  struck 
with  the  charms  of  their  first  loves,  both  ashore  and  afloat, 
my  boy.  Did  you  ever  hear  an  old  seaman  say  that  much 
for  the  Plantagenet  ?" 

"  I  think  I  have,  sir,"  returned  Lord  Geoffrey,  blushing, 
"  Galleygo,  Sir  Gervaise's  steward,  is  commonly  repeating 
some  such  stuff,  or  other.  They  are  furious  braggarts,  the 
Plantagenet's,  all  round,  sir." 

"  That  comes  honestly,"  answered  Bluewater,  smiling, 
"  her  namesakes  and  predecessors  of  old,  having  some 
such  characteristic,  too.  Look  at  that  ship's  yards,  boy, 
and  learn  how  to  trim  a  vessel's  sails  on  a  wind.  The  pen 
cil  of  a  painter  could  not  draw  lines  more  accurate  !" 

"  Captain  Stowel  tells  us,  sir,  that  the  yards  ought  not  to 
be  braced  in  exactly  alike ;  but  that  we  ought  to  check  the 
weather-braces,  a  little,  as  we  go  aloft,  so  that  the  topsail 
yard  should  point  a  little  less  forward  than  the  lower  yard, 
and  the  topgallant  than  the  topsail." 

"  You  are  quite  right  in  taking  Stowel's  opinion  in  all 
such  matters,  Geoffrey:  but  has  not  Captain  Greenly  done 
the  same  thing  in  the  Plantagenet  ?  When  I  speak  of  sym 
metry,  I  mean  the  symmetry  of  a  seaman." 

The  boy  was  silenced,  though  exceedingly  reluctant  to 
admit  that  any  ship  could  equal  his  own.  In  the  meantime, 
22 


254  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS 

there  was  every  appearance  of  a  change  in  the  weather, 
Just  about  the  time  the  Plantagenet  braced  up,  the  wind 
freshened,  and  in  ten  minutes  it  blew  a  stiff  breeze.  Some 
time  before  the  admiral  spoke  the  vessels  outside,  he  was 
compelled  to  take  in  all  his  light  canvass ;  and  when  he 
filled,  again,  after  giving  his  orders  to  the  frigate  and  sloop, 
the  topgallant  sheets  were  let  fly,  a  single  reef  was  taken 
in  the  topsails,  and  the  lighter  sails  were  set  over  them. 
This  change  in  the  weather,  more  especially  as  the  night 
threatened  to  be  clouded,  if  not  absolutely  dark,  would  ne 
cessarily  bring  about  a  corresponding  change  in  the  plan 
of  sailing,  reducing  the  intervals  between  the  departures  of 
the  vessels,  quite  one-half.  To  such  vicissitudes  are  all 
maritime  operations  liable,  and  it  is  fortunate  when  there  is 
sufficient  capacity  in  the  leaders  to  remedy  them. 

In  less  than  an  hour,  the  Plantagenet's  hull  began  to 
sink,  to  those  on  a  level  with  it*  when  the  Carnatic  tripped 
her  anchor,  opened  her  canvass,  shot  out  of  the  fleet,  hauled 
by  the  wind,  and  followed  in  the  admiral's  wake.  So  accu 
rate  was  the  course  she  steered,  that,  half  an  hour  after  she 
had  braced  up,  a  hawse-bucket,  which  had  been  dropped 
from  the  Plantagenet  in  hauling  water,  was  picked  up. 
We  may  add,  here,  though  it  will  be  a  little  anticipating 
events,  that  the  Thunderer  followed  the  Carnatic ;  the  Blen 
heim  the  Thunderer  ;  the  Achilles  the  Blenheim  ;  the  War- 
spite  the  Achilles  ;  the  Dover  the  Warspite;  the  York  the 
Dover;  the  Elizabeth  the  York  ;  the  Dublin  the  Elizabeth  ; 
and  the  Csesar  the  Dublin.  But  hours  passed  before  all 
these  ships  were  in  motion,  and  hours  in  which  we  shall 
have  some  occurrences  to  relate  that  took  place  on  shore. 
Still  it  will  aid  the  reader  in  better  understanding  the  fu 
ture  incidents  of  our  tale,  if  we  describe,  at  once,  some  of 
the  circumstances  under  which  all  these  ships  got  in  mo 
tion. 

By  the  time  the  Plantagenet's  topsails  were  beginning  to 
dip  from  the  clifTs,  the  Carnatic,  the  Thunderer,  the  Blen 
heim,  the  Achilles,  and  the  Warspite  we?3  all  stretching  out 
in  line,  with  intervals  of  quite  two  leagues  between  them, 
under  as  much  canvass  as  they  could  now  bear.  The  ad 
miral  had  shortened  sail  the  most,  and  was  evidently  allow 
ing  the  Carnatic  to  close,  mos*  probably  on  account  of  the 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  255 

threatening  look  of  the  sky,  to  windward  ;  while  he  was 
suffering  the  frigate  and  sloop,  the  Chloe  and  Driver,  to  pass 
ahead  of  him,  the  one  on  his  weather,  and  the  other  on  his 
lee  bow.  When  the  Dover  weighed,  the  admiral's  upper 
sail  was  not  visible  from  her  tops,  though  the  Warspite's 
hull  had  not  yet  disappeared  from  her  deck.  She  leit  the 
fleet,  or  the  portions  of  it  that  still  remained  at  anchor,  with 
her  fore-course  set,  and  hauled  by  the  wind,  under  double- 
reefed  topsails,  a  single  reef  in  her  mainsail,  and  with  her 
main-topgallant  sail  set  over  its  proper  sail.  With  this  re 
duced  canvass,  she  started  away  on  the  track  of  her  con 
sorts,  the  brine  foaming  under  her  bows,  and  with  a  heel 
that  denoted  the  heavy  pressure  that  bore  on  her  sails.  By 
this  time,  the  York  was  aweigh,  the  tide  had  turned,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  fill  on  the  other  tack  in  order  to  clear 
the  land  to  the  eastward.  This  altered  the  formation,  but 
we  will  now  revert  to  the  events  as  they  transpired  on  the 
shore,  with  a  view  to  relate  them  more  in  their  regular 
order. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  Bluewater  must  have 
remained  on,  or  about  the  cliffs  several  hours,  in  order  to 
witness  the  departure  of  so  many  of  the  vessels.  Instead 
of  returning  to  the  Hall  at  the  dinner  hour,  agreeably  to 
promise,  he  profited  by  the  appearance  of  Wycherly,  who 
left  the  cottage  with  a  flushed,  agitated  manner,  just  as  he 
was  thinking  of  the  necessity  of  sending  a  message  to  Sir 
Reginald,  and  begged  the  young  man  to  be  the  bearer  of 
his  excuses.  He  thought  that  the  change  in  the  weather 
rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  remain  in  sight  of  the  sea. 
Dutton  overheard  this  message,  and,  after  a  private  confer 
ence  with  his  wife,  he  ventured  to  invite  his  superior  to 
appease  his  appetite  under  his  own  humble  roof.  To  this 
Bluewater  cheerfully  assented;  and  when  the  summons 
came  to  the  table,  to  his  great  joy  he  found  that  his  only 
companion  was  to  be  Mildred,  who  like  himself,  for  some 
reason  known  only  to  her  own  bosom,  had  let  the  ordinary 
dining  hour  pass  without  appearing  at  table,  but  whom  her 
mother  had  now  directed  to  take  some  sustenance. 

"  The  late  events  at  the  Hall  have  agitated  the  poor  child, 
sir,"  said  Mrs.  Dutton,  in  the  way  of  apology,  "  and  she 
has  not  tasted  food  since  morning.  I  have  told  her  you 


"256  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

would  excuse  the  intrusion,  and  receive  her  carving  and  at 
tentions  as  an  excuse  for  her  company." 

Bluewater  looked  at  the  pallid  countenance  of  the  girl, 
and  never  before  had  he  found  the  resemblance  to  Agnes 
Hedworth  so  strong,  as  that  moment.  The  last  year  or 
two  of  his  own  sweet  friend's  life  had  been  far  from  happy, 
and  Lhe  languid  look  and  tearful  eyes  of  Mildred  revived  the 
recollection  of  the  dead,  with  painful  distinctness. 

"Good  God!"  he  murmured  to  himself;  "That  two 
such  beings  should  exist  only  to  suffer  !  my  good  Mrs.  Dut- 
ton,  make  no  excuses ;  but  believe  me  when  I  say  that  you 
could  not  have  found  in  England  another  that  would  have 
proved  as  welcome  as  my  present  little  messmate." 

Mildred  struggled  for  a  smile ;  and  she  did  succeed  in 
looking  extremely  grateful.  Beyond  this,  however,  it  ex 
ceeded  her  powers  to  go.  Mrs.  Button  was  gratified,  and 
soon  left  the  two  to  partake  of  their  neat,  but  simple  meal, 
by  themselves;  household  duties  requiring  her  presence 
elsewhere. 

"  Let  me  persuade  you  to  take  a  glass  of  this  really  ex 
cellent  port,  my  child,"  said  Bluewater.  "  If  you  had 
cruised  as  long  as  I  have  done,  on  the  coast  of  Portugal, 
you  would  know  how  to  value  a  liquor  as  pure  as  this.  I 
don't  know  of  an  admiral  that  has  as  good  !" 

"  It  is  probably  our  last,  sir,"  answered  Mildred,  shaking 
a  tear  from  each  of  her  long  dark  lashes,  by  an  involunta 
rily  trembling  motion,  as  she  spoke.  "  It  was  a  present 
from  dear,  old,  Sir  Wycherly,  who  never  left  my  mother 
wholly  unsupplied  with  such  plain  delicacies,  as  he  fancied 
poverty  placed  beyond  our  reach.  .The  wine  we  can  easily 
forget ;  not  so  easily  the  donor." 

Bluewater  felt  as  if  he  could  draw  a  cheque  for  one-half 
the  fortune  he  had  devised  to  his  companion  ;  and,  yet,  by 
a  caprice  of  feeling  that  is  not  uncommon  to  persons  of  the 
liveliest  susceptibility,  he  answered  in  a  way  to  smother  his 
own  emotion. 

"  There  will  not  soon  be  another  old  Sir  Wycherly  to 
make  his  neighbours  comfortable ;  but  there  is  a  young  one, 
who  is  not  likely  to  forget  his  uncle's  good  example.  I 
hope  you  all  here,  rejoice  at  the  sudden  rise  in  fortune,  that 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  257 

has  so  unexpectedly  been  placed  within  the  reach  of  our 
favourite  lieutenant  ?" 

A  look  of  anguish  passed  over  Mildred's  face,  and  her 
companion  noted  it  ,•  though  surprise  and  pity — not  to  say 
resentment — prevented  his  betraying  his  discovery. 

"  We  endeavour  to  be  glad,  sir,"  answered  Mildred,  smil 
ing  in  so  suffering  a  manner,  as  to  awaken  all  her  com 
panion's  sympathies  ;  "  but  it  is  not  easy  for  us  to  rejoice 
at  any  thing  which  is  gained  by  the  loss  of  our  former, 
valued  friend.'" 

"  I  am  aware  that  a  young  fellow,  like  the  present  Sir 
Wycherly,  can  be  no  substitute  for  an  old  fellow  like  the  last 
Sir  Wycherly,  my  dear  ;  but  as  one  is  a  sailor,  and  the 
other  was  only  a  landsman,  my  professional  prejudices  may 
not  consider  the  disparity  as  great  as  it  may  possibly  appear 
to  be  to  your  less  partial  judgment." 

Bluewater  thought  the  glance  he  received  was  imploring, 
and  he  instantly  regretted  that  he  had  taken  such  means  to 
divert  his  companion's  sadness.  Some  consciousness  of 
this  regret  probably  passed  through  Mildred's  mind,  for  she 
rallied  her  spirits,  and  made  a  partially  successful  effort  to 
be  a  more  agreeable  companion. 

"  My  father  thinks,  sir,"  she  said,  "  that  our  late  pleasant 
weather  is  about  to  desert  us,  and  that  it  is  likely  to  blow 
heavily  before  six-and-thirty  hours  are  over." 

"  I  am  afraid  Mr.  Button  will  prove  to  be  too  accurate  an 
almanac.  The  weather  has  a  breeding  look,  and  I  expect 
a  dirty  night.  Good  or  bad,  we  seamen  must  face  it,  and 
that,  too,  in  the  narrow  seas,  where  gales  of  wind  are  no 
gales  of  Araby." 

"  Ah,  sir,  it  is  a  terrible  life  to  lead  !  By  living  on  this 
cliff,  I  have  learned  to  pity  sailors." 

"  Pevhaps,  my  child,  you  pity  us  when  we  are  the  most 
happy.  Nine  seamen  in  ten  prefer  a  respectable  gale  to  a 
flat  calm.  There  are  moments  when  the  ocean  is  terrific  ; 
but,  on  the  whole,  it  is  capricious,  rather  than  malignant. 
The  night  that  is  before  us  promises  to  be  just  such  a  one 
as  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  delights  in.  He  is  never  happier 
than  when  he  hears  a  gale  howling  through  the  cordage  of 
his  ship." 

"  I  have  heard  him  spoken  of  as  a  very  daring  and  self- 
22* 


258  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

relying  commander.  But  you  cannot  entertain  such  feelings  j 
Admiral  Bluevvater  ;  for  to  me  you  seem  better  fitted  for  a 
fireside,  well  filled  with  friends  and  relatives,  than  for  the 
conflicts  and  hardships  of  the  sea." 

Mildred  had  no  difficulty  now  in  forcing  a  smile,  for  the 
sweet  one  she  bestowed  on  the  veteran  almost  tempted  him 
to  rise  and  fold  her  in  his  arms,  as  a  parent  would  wrap  a 
beloved  daughter  to  his  heart.  Discretion,  however,  pre 
vented  a  betrayal  of  feelings  that  might  have  been  misinter 
preted,  and  he  answered  in  his  original  vein. 

"  I  fear  I  am  a  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing,"  he  said  ;  "  whilo 
Oakes  admits  the  happiness  he  feels  in  seeing  his  ship 
ploughing  through  a  raging  sea,  in  a  dark  night,  he  main 
tains  that  my  rapture  is  sought  in  a  hurricane.  I  do  not 
plead  guilty  to  the  accusation,  but  I  will  allow  there  is  a 
sort  of  fierce  delight  in  participating,  as  it  might  be,  in  a 
wild  strife  of  the  elements.  To  me,  my  very  nature  seems 
changed  at  such  moments,  and  I  forget  all  that  is  mild  and 
gentle.  That  comes  of  having  lived  so  much  estranged  from 
your  sex,  my  dear ;  desolate  bachelor,  as  I  am." 

"  Do  you  think  sailors  ought  to  marry?"  asked  Mildred, 
with  a  steadiness  that  surprised  herself;  for,  while  she  put 
the  question,  consciousness  brought  the  blood  to  her  temples. 

"  1  should  be  sorry  to  condemn  a  whole  profession,  and 
that  one  I  so  well  love,  to  the  hopeless  misery  of  single  life. 
There  are  miseries  peculiar  to  the  wedded  lives  of  both  sol 
diers  and  sailors;  but  are  there  not  miseries  peculiar  to  those 
who  never  separate?  I  have  heard  seamen  say — men,  too, 
who  loved  their  wives  and  families — that  they  believed  the 
extreme  pleasure  of  meetings  after  long  separations,  the  de 
lights  of  hope,  and  the  zest  of  excited  feelings,  have  rendered 
their  years  of  active  service  more  replete  with  agreeable 
sensations,  than  the  stagnant  periods  of  peace.  Never  hav 
ing  been  married  myself,  I  can  only  speak  on  report." 

"  Ah  !  this  may  be  so  with  men;  but — surely — surely  — 
women  never  can  feel  thus  !" 

"  I  suppose,  a  sailor's  daughter  yourself,  you  know  Jack's 
account  of  his  wife's  domestic  creed  !  '  A  good  fire,  a  clean 
hearth,  the  children  abed,  and  the  husband  at  sea,'  is  sup 
posed  to  be  the  climax  of  felicity." 

"  This  may  do  for  the  sailor's  jokes,  Admiral  Bluewater, 7 


THE      TWO     ADMIRALS.  259 

answered  Mildred,  smiling ;  "  but  it  will  hardly  ease  a 
breaking  heart.  I  fear,  from  all  I  have  heard  this  afternoon, 
and  from  the  sudden  sailing  of  the  ships,  that  a  great  battle 
is  at  hand  ?" 

"  And  why  should  you,  a  British  officer's  daughter,  dread 
that  ?  Have  you  so  little  faith  in  us,  as  to  suppose  a  battle 
will  necessarily  bring  defeat !  I  have  seen  much  of  my 
own  profession,  Miss  Button,  and  trust  I  arn  in  some  small 
degree  above  the  rhodomontade  of  the  braggarts ;  but  it  is 
not  usual  for  us  to  meet  the  enemy,  and  to  give  those  on 
shore  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  the  English  flag.  It  has 
never  yet  been  my  luck  to  meet  a  Frenchman  who  did  not 
manifest  a  manly  desire  to  do  his  country  credit ;  and  I  have 
always  felt  that  we  must  fight  hard  for  him  before  we  could 
get  him ;  nor  has  the  result  ever  disappointed  me.  Still, 
fortune,  or  skill,  or  right,  is  commonly  of  our  side,  and  has 
given  us  the  advantage  in  the  end." 

"  And  to  which,  sir,  do  you  ascribe  a  success  at  sea,  so 
very  uniform?" 

"  As  a  Protestant,  I  ought  to  say  to  our  religion  ;  but, 
this  my  own  knowledge  of  Protestant  vices  rejects.  Then 
to  s^cy  fortune  would  be  an  exceeding  self-abasement — one, 
that  between  us,  is  not  needed ;  and  I  believe  I  must  impute 
it  to  skill.  As  plain  seamen,  I  do  believe  we  are  more 
expert  than  most  of  our  neighbours ;  though  I  am  far  from 
being  positive  we  have  any  great  advantage  over  them  in 
tactics.  If  any,  the  Dutch  are  our  equals." 

"  Notwithstanding,  you  are  quite  certain  of  success.  It 
must  be  a  great  encouragement  to  enter  into  the  fight  with 
a  strong  confidence  in  victory  !  I  suppose — that  is,  it  seems 
to  me — it  is  a  matter  of  course,  sir, — that  our  new  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  will  not  be  able  to  join  in  the  battle,  this  time  ?" 

Mildred  spoke  timidly,  and  she  endeavoured  to  seem  un 
concerned  ;  but  Bluewater  read  her  whole  heart,  and  pitied 
the  pain  which  she  had  inflicted  on  herself,  in  asking  the 
question.  It  struck  him,  too,  that  a  girl  of  his  companion's 
delicacy  and  sensibility  would  not  thus  advert  to  the  young 
man's  movements  at  all,  if  the  latter  had  done  aught  justly 
to  awaken  censure ;  and  this  conviction  greatly  relieved  his 
mind  as  to  the  effect  of  sudden  elevation  on  the  handsome 


260  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

lieutenant.  As  it  was  necessary  to  answer,  however,  lesfc 
Mildred  might  detect  his  consciousness  of  her  feelings,  not 
a  moment  was  lost  before  making  a  reply. 

"  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  prevent  a  young,  dashing 
sailor,  like  this  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  from  doing  his 
part  in  a  general  engagement,  and  that,  too,  of  the  character 
of  the  one  to  which  we  are  looking  forward,"  he  said. 
"  Oakes  has  left  the  matter  in  my  hands ;  I  suppose  I  shall 
have  to  grant  the  young  man's  request." 

"  He  has  then  requested  to  be  received  in  your  ship  ?" 
asked  Mildred,  her  hand  shaking  as  she  used  the  spoon  it 
held. 

"  That  of  course.  No  one  who  wears  the  uniform  could 
or  would  do  less.  It  seems  a  ticklish  moment  for  him  to 
quit  Wychecombe, too;  where  I  fancy  he  will  have  a  battle  of 
his  own  to  fight  ere  long ;  but  professional  feeling  will  over 
shadow  all  others,  in  young  men.  Among  us  seamen,  it  is 
said  to  be  even  stronger  than  love." 

Mildred  made  no  answer  ;  but  her  pale  cheek  and  quiv 
ering  lips,  evidences  of  feeling  that  her  artlessness  did  not 
enable  her  to  conceal,  caused  Blue  water  again  to  regret  the 
remark.  With  a  view  to  restore  the  poor  girl  to  her  self- 
command,  he  changed  the  subject  of  conversation,  which  did 
not  again  advert  to  Wycherly.  The  remainder  of  the  meal 
was  consequently  eaten  in  peace,  the  admiral  manifesting  to 
the  last,  however,  the  sudden  and  generous  interest  he  had 
taken  in  the  character  and  welfare  of  his  companion.  When 
they  rose  from  table,  Mildred  joined  her  mother,  and  Blue- 
water  walked  out  upon  the  cliffs  again. 

It  was  now  evening,  and  the  waste  of  water  that  lay 
stretched  before  the  eye,  though  the  softness  of  summer  was 
shed  upon  it,  had  the  wild  and  dreary  aspect  that  the  winds 
and  waves  lend  to  a  view,  as  the  light  of  day  is  about  to 
ubandon  the  ocean  to  the  gloom  of  night.  All  this  had  no 
effect  on  Bluewater,  however,  who  knew  that  two-decked 
ships,  strongly  manned,  with  their  heavy  canvass  reduced, 
would  make  light  work  of  worrying  through  hours  of  dark 
ness  that  menaced  no  more  than  these.  Still  the  wind  had 
freshened,  and  when  he  stood  on  the  verge  of  the  cliff,  sus 
tained  by  the  breeze,  which  pressed  him  track  from  the  pre 
cipice,  rendering  his  head  more  steady,  and  his  footing  sure, 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  261 

the  Elizabeth  was  casting,  under  close-reefed  topsails,  and 
two  reels  in  her  courses,  with  a  heavy  staysail  or  two,  to 
ease  her  helm.  He  saw  that  the  ponderous  machine  would 
stagger  under  even  this  short  canvass,  and  that  her  captain 
had  made  his  dispositions  for  a  windy  night.  The  lights 
that  the  Dover  and  the  York  carried  in  their  tops  were  just 
beginning  to  be  visible  in  the  gathering  gloom,  the  last 
about  a  league  and  a  half  down  channel,  the  ship  standing 
in  that  direction  to  get  to  windward,  and  the  former,  more 
to  the  southward,  the  vessel  having  already  tacked  to  follow 
the  admiral.  A  chain  of  lights  connected  the  whole  of  the 
long  line,  and  placed  the  means  of  communication  in  the 
power  of  the  captains.  At  this  moment,  the  Plantagenet 
was  fully  fifty  miles  at  sea,  ploughing  through  a  heavy 
south-west  swell,  which  the  wind  was  driving  into  the  chops 
of  the  channel,  from  the  direction  of  the  Bay  of  Biscay, 
and  the  broad  Atlantic. 

Bluewater  buttoned  his  coat,  and  he  felt  his  frame  invigo 
rated  by  a  gale  that  came  over  his  person,  loaded  with  the 
peculiar  flavour  of  the  sea.  But  two  of  the  heavy  ships 
remained  at  their  anchors,  the  Dublin  and  the  Ca3sar ;  and 
his  experienced  eye  could  see  that  Stowel  had  every  thing 
on  board  the  latter  ready  to  trip  and  be  off,  as  soon  as  he, 
himself,  should  give  the  order.  At  this  moment  the  mid 
shipman,  who  had  been  absent  for  hours,  returned,  and 
stood  again  at  his  side. 

"  Our  turn  will  soon  come,  sir,"  said  the  gallant  boy, 
"  and,  for  one,  I  shall  not  be  sorry  to  be  in  motion.  Them 
chaps  on  board  the  Plantagenet  will  swagge  like  so  many 
Dons,  if  they  should  happen  to  get  a  broadside  at  Monsieur 
de  Vervillin,  while  we  are  lying  here,  under  the  shore,  like 
a  gentleman's  yacht  hauled  into  a  bay,  that  the  ladies  might 
eat  without  disturbing  their  stomachs." 

"  Little  fear  of  that,  Geoffrey.  The  Active  is  too  light 
of  foot,  especially  in  the  weather  we  have  had,  to  suffer 
heavy  ships  to  be  so  close  on  her  heels.  She  must  have  had 
some  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  the  start,  and  the  French  have 
been  compelled  to  double  Cape  la  Hogue  and  Alderney,  be 
fore  they  could  even  look  this  way.  If  coming  down  chan 
nel  at  all,  they  are  fully  fifty  miles  to  the  eastward  ;  and, 
should  our  van  stretch  far  enough  by  morning  to  head  them 


262  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

off,  it  will  bring  us  handsomely  to  windward.  Sir  Gervaiso 
never  set  a  better  trap,  than  he  has  done  this  very  day. 
The  Elizabeth  has  her  hands  full,  boy,  and  the  wind  seems 
to  be  getting  scant  for  her.  If  it  knock  her  off  much  more, 
it  will  bring  the  flood  on  her  weather-bow,  and  compel  her 
to  tack.  This  will  throw  the  rear  of  our  line  into  confu 
sion  !" 

"  What  should  we  do,  sir,  in  such  a  case  ?  It  would  never 
answer  to  leave  poor  Sir  Jarvy  out  there,  by  himself!" 

"  We  would  try  not  to  do  that  /"  returned  Bluewater 
smiling  at  the  affectionate  solicitude  of  the  lad,  a  solicitude 
that  caused  him  slightly  to  forget  his  habitual  respect  for 
the  commander-in-chief,  and  to  adopt  the  sobriquet  of  the 
fleet.  "  In  such  a  case,  it  would  become  my  duty  to  collect 
as  many  ships  as  I  could,  and  to  make  the  best  of  our  way 
towards  the  place  where  we  might  hope  to  fall  in  with  the 
others,  in  the  morning.  There  is  little  danger  of  losing 
each  other,  for  any  length  of  time,  in  these  narrow  waters, 
and  I  have  few  apprehensions  of  the  French  being  far 
enough  west,  to  fall  in  with  our  leading  vessels  before 
morning.  If  they  should,  indeed,  Geoffrey — " 

"  Ay,  sir,  if  they  should,  I  know  well  enough  what 
would  come  to  pass  !" 

"  What,  boy  ?  —  On  the  supposition  that  Monsieur  de 
Vcrvillin  did  meet  with  Sir  Gervaise  by  day-break,  what, 
in  your  experienced  eyes,  seem  most  likely  to  be  the  con 
sequences  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  Sir  Jarvey  would  go  at  'em,  like  a  dolphin 
at  a  flying-fish  ;  and  if  he  should  really  happen  to  catch 
one  or  two  of  'em,there'd  be  no  sailing  in  company  with  the 
Plantagenet's,  for  us  Caesar's  ! — When  we  had  the  last  'bout 
with  Monsieur  deGravelin,  they  were  as  saucy  as  peacocks, 
because  we  didn't  close  until  their  fore-yard  and  mizzen- 
topgallant-mast  were  gone,  although  the  shift  of  wind 
brought  us  dead  to  leeward,  and,  after  all,  we  had  eleven 
men  the  most  hurt  in  the  fight.  You  don't  know  them 
Plantagenet's,  sir ;  for  they  never  dare  say  any  thing  before 
your 

"  Nor  to  the  discredit  of  my  young  Ca3sars,  I  '11  answer 
for  it.  Yet,  you  '11  remember  Sir  Gervaise  gave  us  full 
credit,  in  his  despatches." 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  263 

"  Yes  sir,  all  very  true.  Sir  Gervaise  knows  better  • 
and  then  he  understands  what  the  Caesar  is  ;  and  what  she 
can  do,  and  has  done.  But  it 's  a  very  different  matter  with 
his  youngsters,  who  fancy  because  they  carry  a  red  flag  at 
the  fore,  they  are  so  many  Blakes  and  Howards,  themselves. 
There 's  Jack  Oldcastle,  now  ;  he 's  always  talking  of  our 
reefers  as  if  there  was  no  sea-blood  in  our  veins,  and  that 
just  because  his  own  father  happened  to  be  a  capiain — a 
commodore,  he  says,  because  he  happened  once  to  have 
three  frigates  under  his  orders." 

"  Well,  that  would  make  a  commodore,  for  the  time  being. 
But,  surely  he  does  not  claim  privilege  for  the  Oldcastle 
blood,  over  that  of  the  Clevelands  !" 

"  No,  sir,  it  isn't  that  sort  of  thing,  at  all,"  returned  the 
fine  boy,  blushing  a  little,  in  spite  of  his  contempt  for  any 
such  womanly  weakness  ;  "  you  know  we  never  talk  of  that 
nonsense  in  our  squadron.  With  us  it 's  all  service,  and 
that  sort  of  thing.  Jack  Oldcastle  says  the  Clevelands  are 
all  civilians,  as  he  calls  'em ;  or  soldiers,  which  isn't  much 
better,  as  you  know,  sir.  Now,  I  tell  him  that  there  is  an 
old  picture  of  one  of 'em,  with  an  anchor-button,  and  that 
was  long  before  Queen  Anne's  time — Queen  Elizabeth's, 
perhaps, — and  then  you  know,  sir,  I  fetch  him  up  with  a 
yarn  about  the  Hedworths  ;  for  I  am  just  as  much  Hedworth 
is  Cleveland." 

"  And  what  does  the  impudent  dog  say  to  that,  Geoffrey  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  he  says  the  name  should  be  spelt  He&dwork, 
and  that  they  were  all  lawyers.  But  I  gave  him  as  good  as 
he  sent  for  that  saucy  speech,  I  'm  certain  !" 

"  And  what  did  you  give  him,  in  return  for  such  a  com 
pliment  ?  Did  you  tell  him  the  Oldcastles  were  just  so  much 
stone,  and  wood,  and  old  iron ;  and  that,  too,  in  a  tumble 
down  condition  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  not  I,"  answered  the  boy,  laughing  ;  "  I  didn't 
think  of  any  answer  half  so  clever;  and  so  I  just  gave  him 
a  dig  in  the  nose,  and  that,  laid  on  with  right  pood  will." 

"  And  how  did  he  receive  that  argument  1  Was  it  conclu 
sive  ; — or  did  the  debate  continue  ?" 

"  Oh,  of  course,  sir,  we  fought  it  out.  'T  was  on  board 
the  Dover,  and  the  first  lieutenant  saw  fair  play.  Jack 
carried  too  many  guns  for  me,  sir,  for  he 's  more  than  a 


264  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

year  older ,  but  I  hulled  him  so  often  that  he  owned  it  was 
harder  work  than  being  mast-headed.  After  that  the  Dover's 
chaps  took  my  part,  and  they  said  the  Hedworths  had  no 
Headword  at  all,  but  they  were  regular  sailors ;  admirals, 
and  captains,  and  youngsters,  you  know,  sir,  like  all  the 
rest  of  us.  I  told  'em  my  grandfather  Hedworth  was  an 
admiral,  and  a  good  one,  too." 

"  In  that  you  made  a  small  mistake.  Your  mother's 
father  was  only  a  general;  but  his  father  was  a  full  admiral 
of  the  red, — for  he  lived  before  that  grade  was  abolished— 
and  as  good  an  officer  as  ever  trod  a  plank.  He  was  my 
mother's  brother,  and  both  Sir  Gervaise  and  myself  served 
long  under  his  orders.  He  was  a  sailor  of  whom  you  well 
might  boast." 

"  I  don't  think  any  of  the  Plantagenets  will  chase  in  that 
quarter  again,  sir ;  for  we  've  had  an  overhauling  among 
our  chaps,  and  we  find  we  can  muster  four  admirals,  two 
commodores,  and  thirteen  captains  in  our  two  messes ;  that 
is,  counting  all  sorts  of  relatives,  you  know,  sir." 

"  Well,  my  dear  boy,  I  hope  you  may  live  to  reckon  all 
that  and  more  too,  in  your  own  persons,  at  some  future  day. 
Yonder  is  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  coming  this  way,  to 
my  surprise,  and  perhaps  he  wishes  to  see  me  alone.  Go 
down  to  the  landing  and  ascertain  if  my  barge  is  ashore, 
and  let  me  know  it,  as  soon  as  is  convenient.  Remember, 
Geoffrey,  you  will  go  off  with  me ;  and  hunt  up  Sir  Wy. 
cherly  Wychecombe,  who  will  lose  his  passage,  unless  readv 
the  instant  he  is  wanted." 

The  boy  touched  his  cap,  and  went  bounding  down  th« 
hill  to  execute  the  order. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  265 


CHAPTEE  XYIII. 

•*  So  glozed  the  Tempter,  and  his  poison  tuned ; 
Into  the  heart  of  Eve  his  words  made  way, 
Though  at  the  voice  much  marvelling." 

MILTON. 

IT  was,  probably,  a  species  of  presentiment,  that  induced 
Bluewater  to  send  away  the  midshipman,  when  he  saw  the 
adherent  of  the  dethroned  house  approaching.  Enough  had 
passed  between  the  parties  to  satisfy  each  of  the  secret  bias 
of  the  other  ;  and,  by  that  sort  of  free-masonry  which  gene 
rally  accompanies  strong  feelings  of  partisanship,  the  admira. 
felt  persuaded  that  the  approaching  interview  was  about  to 
relate  to  the  political  troubles  of  the  day. 

The  season  and  the  hour,  and  the  spot,  too,  were  all  poet 
ically  favourable  to  an  interview  between  conspirators.  It 
was  now  nearly  dark ;  the  head-land  was  deserted,  Dutton 
having  retired,  first  to  his  bottle,  and  then  to  his  bed ;  the 
wind  blew  heavily  athwart  the  bleak  eminence,  or  was  heard 
scuffling  in  the  caverns  of  the  cliffs,  while  the  portentous 
clouds  that  drove  through  the  air,  now  veiled  entirely,  and 
now  partially  and  dimly  revealed  the  light  of  the  moon,  in 
a,  way  to  render  the  scene  both  exciting  and  wild.  No 
wonder,  then,  that  Bluewater,  his  visiter  drawing  near,  felt 
a  stronger  disposition  than  had  ever  yet  come  over  him  to 
listen  to  the  taie  of  the  tempter,  as,  under  all  the  circum 
stances,  it  would  scarcely  exceed  the  bounds  of  justice  to 
call  Sir  Reginald. 

"  In  seeking  you  at  such  a  spot,  and  in  the  midst  of  this 
wild  landscape,"  said  the  latter,  "  I  might  have  been  assured 
I  should  be  certain  of  finding  one  who  really  loved  the  sea 
and  your  noble  profession.  The  Hall  is  a  melancholy 
house,  just  at  this  moment ;  and  when  I  inquired  for  you, 
no  one  could  say  whither  you  had  strolled.  In  following 
what  I  thought  a  seaman's  instinct,  it  appears  that  I  did 
well. — Do  my  eyes  fail  me,  or  are  there  no  more  than  three 
vessels  at  anchor  yonder  t" 
23 


266 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 


"  Your  eyes  are  still  good,  Sir  Reginald ;  Admiral  Oakes 
sailed  several  hours  since,  and  he  has  been  followed  by  all 
the  fleet,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  line-of-battle  ships, 
and  the  frigate  you  see ;  leaving  me  to  be  the  last  to  quit 
the  anchorage." 

"  Is  it  a  secret  of  state,  or  are  you  permitted  to  say 
whither  so  strong  a  force  has  so  suddenly  sailed  ?"  demanded 
the  baronet,  glancing  his  dark  eye  so  expressively  towards 
the  other  as  to  give  him,  in  the  growing  obscurity,  the  ap 
pearance  of  an  inquisitor.  "  I  had  been  told  the  fleet  would 
wait  for  orders  from  London  ?" 

"  Such  was  the  first  intention  of  the  commander-in-chief ; 
but  intelligence  of  the  sailing  of  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  has 
induced  Sir  Gervaise  to  change  his  mind.  An  English 
admiral  seldom  errs  when  he  seeks  and  beats  an  active  and 
dangerous  enemy." 

"  Is  this  always  true,  Admiral  Bluewater  ?"  returned  Sir 
Reginald,  dropping  in  at  the  side  of  the  other,  and  joining 
in  his  walk,  as  he  paced,  to  and  fro,  a  short  path  that  Dutton 
called  his  own  quarter-deck  ;  "  or  is  it  merely  an  unmean 
ing  generality  that  sometimes  causes  men  to  become  the 
dupes  of  their  own  imaginations.  Are  those  always  our 
enemies  who  may  seem  to  be  so  ?  or,  are  we  so  infallible 
that  every  feeling  or  prejudice  may  be  safely  set  down  as  an 
impulse  to  which  we  ought  to  submit,  without  questioning 
its  authority  ?" 

"  Do  you  esteem  it  a  prejudice  to  view  France  as  the 
natural  enemy  of  England,  Sir  Reginald  ?" 

"  By  heaven,  I  do,  sir  !  I  can  conceive  that  England 
may  be  much  more  her  own  enemy  than  France  has  ever 
proved  to  be.  Then,  conceding  that  ages  of  warfare  have 
contributed  to  awaken  some  such  feeling  as  this  you  hint  at, 
is  there  not  a  question  of  right  and  wrong  that  lies  behind 
all.  Reflect  how  often  England  has  invaded  the  French 
soil,  and  what  serious  injuries  she  has  committed  on  the 
territory  of  the  latter,  while  France  has  so  little  wronged  us, 
in  the  same  way ;  how,  even  her  throne  has  been  occupied 
by  our  princes,  and  her  provinces  possessed  by  our  armies." 

"  I  think  you  hardly  allow  for  all  the  equity  of  the  dif 
ferent  cases.  Parts  of  what  is  now  France,  were  the  just 
inheritance  of  those  who  have  sat  on  the  English  throne,  and 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  267 

the  quarrels  were  no  more  than  the  usual  difficulties  of 
neighbourhood.  When  our  claims  were  just  in  themselves, 
you  surely  could  not  have  wished  to  see  them  abandoned." 

"  Far  from  it ;  but  when  claims  were  disputed,  is  it  not 
natural  for  the  loser  to  view  them  as  a  hardship.  I  believe 
we  should  have  had  a  much  better  neighbourhood,  as  you 
call  it,  with  France,  had  not  the  modern  difficulties  con 
nected  with  religious  changes,  occurred." 

"  I  presume  you  know,  Sir  Reginald,  that  I,  and  all  my 
family,  are  Protestants." 

"  I  do,  Admiral  Bluewater ;  and  I  rejoice  to  find  that  a 
difference  of  opinion  on  this  great  interest  does  not  necessa 
rily  produce  one  on  all  others.  From  several  little  allusions 
that  have  passed  between  us  to-day,  I  am  encouraged  to 
believe  that  we  think  alike  on  certain  temporal  matters, 
however  wide  the  chasm  between  us  on  spiritual  things." 

"  I  confess  I  have  fallen  into  the  same  conclusion  ;  and 
[  should  be  sorry  to  be  undeceived  if  wrong." 

"  What  occasion,  then,  for  farther  ambiguity  ?  Surely 
two  honourable  men  may  safely  trust  each  other  with  their 
common  sentiments,  when  the  times  call  for  decision  and 
frankness  !  I  am  a  Jacobite,  Admiral  Bluewater ;  if  I  risk 
Jife  or  fortune  by  making  the  avowal,  I  place  both,  without 
reserve,  at  your  mercy." 

"  They  could  not  be  in  safer  hands,  sir ;  and  I  know  no 
better  mode  of  giving  you  every  possible  assurance  that  the 
confidence  will  not  be  abused,  than  by  telling  you  in  return, 
that  I  would  cheerfully  lay  down  my  life  could  the  sacrifice 
restore  the  deposed  family  to  the  throne." 

"  This  is  noble,  and  manly,  and  frank,  as  I  had  hoped 
from  a  sailor  !"  exclaimed  Sir  Reginald,  more  delighted  than 
he  well  knew  how  to  express  at  the  moment.  "  This  simple 
assurance  from  your  lips,  carries  more  weight  than  all  the 
oaths  and  pledges  of  vulgar  conspiracy.  We  understand 
each  other,  and  I  should  be  truly  sorry  to  inspire  less  confi 
dence  than  I  feel." 

"  What  better  proof  can  I  give  you  of  the  reliance  placed 
on  your  faith,  than  the  declaration  you  have  heard,  Sir  Re 
ginald  ?  My  head  would  answer  for  your  treachery  in  a 
week  ;  but  I  have  never  felt  it  more  securely  on  my  shoul 
ders  than  at  this  moment." 


268 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS, 


The  baronet  grasped  the  other's  hand,  and  each  gave  and 
received  a  pressure  that  was  full  of  meaning.  Then  both 
walked  on,  thoughtful  and  relieved,  for  quite  a  minute,  in 
profound  silence. 

"  This  sudden  appearance  of  the  prince  in  Scotland  has 
taken  us  all  a  little  by  surprise,"  Sir  Reginald  resumed,  after 
the  pause  ;  "  though  a  few  of  us  knew  that  his  intentions  led 
him  this  way.  Perhaps  he  has  done  well  to  come  unat 
tended  by  a  foreign  force,  and  to  throw  himself,  as  it  might 
be  singly,  into  the  arms  of  his  subjects  ;  trusting  everything 
to  their  generosity,  loyalty,  and  courage.  Some  blame 
him  ;  but  I  do  not.  He  will  awaken  interest,  now,  in  every 
generous  heart  in  the  nation," — this  was  artfully  adapted  to 
the  character  of  the  listener ; — "  whereas,  some  might  feel 
disposed  to  be  lukewarm  under  a  less  manly  appeal  to  their 
affections  and  loyalty.  In  Scotland,  we  learn  from  all  di 
rections  that  His  Royal  Highness  is  doing  wonders,  while 
the  friends  of  his  house  are  full  of  activity  in  England, 
though  compelled,  for  a  time,  to  be  watchful  and  prudent." 

"  I  rejoice,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  to  hear  this  !" 
said  Bluewater,  drawing  a  long  breath,  like  one  whose  mind 
was  unexpectedly  relieved  from  a  heavy  load.  "  From  the 
bottom  of  my  heart,  do  I  rejoice  !  I  had  my  apprehensions 
that  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  prince  might  find  his  well- 
wishers  unprepared,  and  timid  through  surprise." 

"  As  far  from  that  as  possible,  rny  dear  sir  ;  though  much 
still  depends  on  the  promptitude  and  resolution  of  the  master 
spirits  of  the  party.  We  are  strong  enough  to  control  the 
nation,  if  we  can  bring  those  forward  who  have  the  strength 
to  lead  and  control  ourselves.  All  we  now  want  are  some 
hundred  or  two  of  prominent  men  to  step  out  of  their  diffi 
dence  and  show  us  the  way  to  honourable  achievement  and 
certain  success." 

"  Can  such  men  be  wanting,  at  a  moment  like  this  ?" 

"  I  think  we  are  secure  of  most  of  the  high  nobility, 
though  their  great  risks  render  them  all  a  little  wary  in  the 
outset.  It  is  among  the  professional  men — the  gallant  sol 
diers,  and  the  bold,  ardent  seamen  of  the  fleet,  that  we  must 
look  for  the  first  demonstrations  of  loyalty  and  true  patriot 
ism.  To  be  honest  with  you,  sir,  I  tire  of  being  ruled  by  a 
German." 


THE    TWO   ADMIRALS.  269 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  intention  to  rally  a  force  in  this 
part  of  England,  Sir  Reginald  1  If  so,  say  but  the  word — 
point  out  the  spot  where  the  standard  is  to  be  raised,  and  I 
will  raily  under  it,  the  instant  circumstances  wilt  permit !" 

"  This  is  just  what  I  expected,  Mr.  Bluewater,"  answered 
the  baronet,  more  gratified  than  he  thought  it  prudent  to 
express  ;  "  though  it  is  not  exactly  the  form  in  which  you 
can  best  serve  us  at  this  precise  moment.  Cut  off  from  the 
north,  as  we  are  in  this  part  of  the  island,  by  all  the  re 
sources  of  the  actual  government,  it  would  be  the  height  of 
imprudence  in  us  to  show  our  hands,  until  all  the  cards  are 
ready  to  be  played.  Active  and  confidential  agents  are  at 
work  in  the  army  ;  London  has  its  proper  share  of  business 
men,  while  others  are  in  the  counties,  doing  their  best  to 
put  things  in  a  shape  for  the  consummation  we  so  anxiously 
look  for.  I  have  been  with  several  of  our  friends  in  this 
vicinity,  to  bring  matters  into  a  combined  state ;  and  it  was 
my  intention  to  visit  this  very  estate,  to  see  what  my  own 
name  might  do  with  the  tenantry,  had  not  the  late  Sir  Wy- 
cherly  summoned  me  as  he  did,  to  attend  his  death-bed. 
Have  you  any  clue  to  the  feelings  of  this  new  and  young 
head  of  my  family,  the  sea-lieutenant  and  present  baronet  ?" 

"  Not  a  very  plain,  one,  sir,  though  I  doubt  if  they  be 
favourable  to  the  House  of  Stuart." 

"  I  feared  as  much  ;  this  very  evening  I  have  had  an 
anonymous  communication  that  I  think  must  come  from  his 
competitor,  pretty  plainly  intimating  that,  by  asserting  his 
rights,  as  they  are  called,  the  whole  Wychecombe  tenantry 
and  interest  could  be  united,  in  the  present  struggle,  on 
whichever  side  I  might  desire  to  see  them." 

"  This  is  a  bold  and  decided  stroke,  truly  !  May  I  in 
quire  as  to  your  answer,  Sir  Reginald  ?" 

"  I  shall  give  none.  Under  all  circumstances  I  will  ever 
refuse  to  place  a  bastard  in  the  seat  of  a  legitimate  descend 
ant  of  my  family.  We  contend  for  legal  and  natural  rights, 
my  dear  admiral,  and  the  means  employed  should  not  be 
unworthy  of  the  end.  Besides,  I  know  the  scoundrel  to  be 
unworthy  of  trust,  and  shall  not  have  the  weakness  to  put 
myself  in  his  power.  I  could  wish  the  other  boy  to  be  of 
another  mind ;  but,  by  getting  him  off  to  sea,  whither  lie 
23  * 


270  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

tells  me  he  is  bound,  we  shall  at  least  send  him  out  of 
harm's  way." 

In  all  this  Sir  Reginald  was  perfectly  sincere  ;  for,  while 
he  did  not  always  hesitate  about  the  employment  of  means, 
in  matters  of  politics,  he  was  rigidly  honest  in  everything 
that  related  to  private  property  ;  a  species  of  moral  contra 
diction  that  is  sometimes  found  among  men  who  aim  at  the 
management  of  human  affairs  ;  since  those  often  yield  to  a 
besetting  weakness  who  are  nearly  irreproachable  in  other 
matters.  Bluewater  was  glad  to  hear  this  declaration ;  his 
own  simplicity  of  character  inducing  him  to  fancy  it  was  an 
indication  to  the  general  probity  of  his  companion. 

"  Yes,"  observed  the  latter,  "  in  all  cases,  we  must  main 
tain  the  laws  of  the  land,  in  an  affair  of  private  right.  This 
young  man  is  not  capable,  perhaps,  of  forming  a  just  esti 
mate  of  his  political  duties,  in  a  crisis  like  this,  and  it  may 
be  well,  truly,  to  get  him  off  to  sea,  lest  by  taking  the  losing 
side,  he  endanger  his  estate  before  he  is  fairly  possessed  of 
it.  And  having  now  disposed  of  Sir  Wycherly,  what  can 
I  do  most  to  aid  the  righteous  and  glorious  cause  ?" 

"  This  is  coming  to  the  point  manfully,  Sir  Richard — I 
beg  pardon  for  thus  styling  you,  but  I  happen  to  know  that 
your  name  has  been  before  the  prince,  for  some  time,  as  one 
of  those  who  are  to  receive  the  riband  from  a  sovereign 
really  authorized  to  bestow  it ;  if  I  have  spoken  a  little  pre 
maturely,  I  again  entreat  your  pardon  ; — but,  this  is  at  once 
coming  manfully  to  the  point !  Serve  us  you  can,  of  course, 
and  that  most  effectually,  and  in  an  all-important  manner. 
I  now  greatly  regret  that  my  father  had  not  put  me  in  the 
army,  in  my  youth,  that  I  might  serve  my  prince  as  I  could 
wish,  in  this  perilous  trial.  But  we  have  many  friends  ac 
customed  to  arms,  and  among  them  your  own  honourable 
name  will  appear  conspicuous  as  to  the  past,  and  encouraging 
as  to  the  future." 

"  I  have  carried  arms  from  boyhood,  it  is  true,  Sir  Regi 
nald,  but  it  is  in  a  service  that  will  scarcely  much  avail  us 
in  this  warfare.  Prince  Edward  has  no  ships,  i\or  do  I 
know  he  will  need  any." 

"  True,  my  dear  sir,  but  King  George  has  !  As  for  the 
necessity,  permit  me  to  say  you  are  mistaken ;  it  will  soon 
be  all-important  to  keerc  open  the  communication  with  the 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  271 

continent.  No  doubt,  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  out,  with 
some  such  object,  already." 

Bluewater  started,  and  he  recoiled  from  the  firm  grasp 
which  the  other  took  of  his  arm,  in  the  earnestness  of  dis 
course,  with  some  such  instinctive  aversion  as  a  man  recoils 
from  the  touch  of  the  reptile.  The  thought  of  a  treachery 
like  that  implied  in  the  remark  of  his  companion  had  never 
occurred  to  him,  and  his  honest  mind  turned  with  a  strong 
disrelish,  from  even  the  implied  proposition  of  the  other. 
Still,  he  was  not  quite  certain  how  far  Sir  Reginald  wished 
to  urge  him,  and  he  felt  it  just  to  ascertain  his  real  views 
before  he  answered  them.  Plausible  as  this  appeared,  it 
was  a  dangerous  delay  for  one  so  simple-minded,  when 
brought  in  contact  with  a  person  as  practised  as  the  baronet ; 
Sir  Reginald  having  the  tact  to  perceive  that  his  new  friend's 
feelings  had  already  taken  t'he  alarm,  and  at  once  determin 
ing  to  be  more  wary. 

"  What  am  I  to  understand  by  this,  Sir  Reginald  Wyche- 
combe  ?"  demanded  the  rear-admiral.  "  In  what  manner 
can  1  possibly  be  connected  with  the  naval  resources  of  the 
House  of  Hanover,  when  it  is  my  intention  to  throw  off  its 
service.  King  George's  fleets  will  hardly  aid  the  Stuarts  ; 
and  they  will,  at  least,  obey  the  orders  of  their  own  officers." 

"  Not  the  least  doubt  in  the  world  of  this,  Admiral  Blue- 
water  !  What  a  glorious  privilege  it  was  for  Monk  to  have 
it  in  his  power  to  put  his  liege  sovereign  in  his  rightful  seat, 
and  thus  to  save  the  empire,  by  a  coup  de  main,  from  the 
pains  and  grievances  of  a  civil  contest !  Of  all  the  glorious 
names  in  English  history,  I  esteem  that  of  George  Monk  as 
the  one  most  to  be  envied  !  It  is  a  great  thing  to  be  a  prince — 
one  born  to  be  set  apart  as  God's  substitute  on  earth,  in  all 
that  relates  to  human  justice  and  human  power ; — and  yet 
it  is  greater,  in  my  eyes,  to  be  the  subject  to  restore  the 
order  of  these  almost  divine  successions,  when  once  deranged 
by  lawless  and  presuming  men." 

"  This  is  true  enough,  sir ;  though  I  would  rather  have 
joined  Charles  on  the  beach  at  Dover,  armed  only  with  an 
untainted  sword,  than  followed  by  an  army  at  my  heels  !" 

"  What,  when  that  army  followed  cheerfully,  and  was 
equally  eager  with  yourself  to  serve  their  sovereign  !" 

"  That,  indeed,  might  somewhat  qualify  the  feeling.   But 


273  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

soldiers  and  sailors  are  usually  influenced  by  the  opinions 
of  those  who  have  been  placed  in  command  over  them  by 
the  higher  authorities." 

"  No  doubt  they  are ;  and  that  is  as  it  should  be.  We 
are  encouraged  to  believe  that  some  ten  or  fifteen  captains 
are  already  well-disposed  towards  us,  and  will  cheerfully 
take  their  respective  ships  to  the  points  our  wants  require, 
the  moment  they  feel  assured  of  being  properly  led,  when 
collected.  By  a  little  timely  concert,  we  can  command  the 
North  Sea,  and  keep  open  important  communications  with 
the  continent.  It  is  known  the  ministry  intend  to  employ 
as  many  German  troops  as  they  can  assemble,  and  a  naval 
force  will  be  all -important  in  keeping  these  mustachoed 
foreigners  at  a  distance.  The  quarrel  is  purely  English, 
sir,  and  ought  to  be  decided  by  Englishmen  only." 

"  In  that,  indeed,  I  fully  concur,  Sir  Reginald,"  answered 
Bluewater,  breathing  more  freely.  "  I  would  cruise  a  whole 
winter  in  the  North  Sea  to  keep  the  Dutchmen  at  home,  and 
let  Englishmen  decide  who  was  to  be  England's  king.  To 
me,  foreign  interference,  in  such  a  matter,  is  the  next  evil 
to  positive  disloyalty  to  my  rightful  prince." 

"  These  are  exactly  my  sentiments,  dear  sir,  and  I  hope 
to  see  you  act  on  them.  By  the  way,  how  happens  it  you 
are  left  alone,  and  in  what  manner  do  you  admirals  divide 
your  authority  when  serving  in  company  ?" 

"  I  do  not  know  I  comprehend  your  question,  Sir  Regi 
nald.  I  am  left  here  to  sail  the  last  with  the  Caesar ;  Sir 
Gervaise  leading  out  in  the  Plantagenet,  with  a  view  to 
draw  a  line  across  the  channel  that  shall  effectually  prevent 
de  Vervillin  from  getting  to  the  westward." 

'  To  the  westward  /"  repeated  the  other,  smiling  iron 
ically,  though  the  darkness  prevented  the  admiral  from  see 
ing  the  expression  of  his  features.  "  Does  Admiral  Oakes 
then  think  that  the  French  ships  are  steering  in  that  direc 
tion?" 

"  Such  is  our  information  ;  have  you  any  reason  to  sup 
pose  that  the  enemy  intend  differently  ?" 

The  baronet  paused,  and  he  appeared  to  ruminate. 
Enough  had  already  passed  to  satisfy  him  he  had  not  an 
ordinary  mind  in  that  of  his  companion  to  deal  with,  and  he 
was  slightly  at  a  loss  how  to  answer.  To  bring  the  othes 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  273 

\vithin  his  lures,  he  was  fully  resolved  ;  and  the  spirits  that 
aid  the  designing  just  at  that  moment  suggested  the  plan 
which,  of  all  others,  was  most  likely  to  be  successful.  Blue- 
water  had  betrayed  his  aversion  to  the  interference  of  foreign 
troops  in  the  quarrel,  and  on  this  subject  he  intended  to 
strike  a  chord  which  he  rightly  fancied  would  thrill  on  the 
rear-admiral's  feelings. 

"  We  have  our  information,  certainly,"  answered  Sir 
Reginald,  like  one  who  was  reluctant  to  tell  all  he  knew ; 
"  though  good  faith  requires  it  should  not  actually  be  ex 
posed.  Nevertheless,  any  one  can  reason  on  the  probabili 
ties.  The  Duke  of  Cumberland  will  collect  his  German 
auxiliaries,  and  they  must  get  into  England  the  best  way 
that  they  can.  Would  an  intelligent  enemy  with  a  well- 
appointed  fleet  suffer  this  junction,  if  he  could  prevent  it  ? 
We  know  he  would  not ;  and  when  we  remember  the  pre 
cise  time  of  the  sailing  of  the  Comte,  his  probable  ignorance 
of  the  presence  of  this  squadron  of  yours,  in  the  channel, 
and  all  the  other  circumstances  of  the  case,  who  can  sup 
pose  otherwise  than  to  believe  his  aim  is  to  intercept  the 
German  regiments." 

"  This  does  seem  plausible  ;  and  yet  the  Active's  signals 
told  us  that  the  French  were  steering  west ;  and  that,  too, 
with  a  light  westerly  wind." 

"  Do  not  fleets,  like  armies,  frequently  make  false  demon 
strations  ?  Might  not  Monsieur  de  Vervillin,  so  long  as  his 
vessels  were  in  sight  from  the  shore,  have  turned  toward  the 
west,  with  an  intention,  as  soon  as  covered  by  the  darkness, 
to  incline  to  the  east,  again,  and  sail  up  channel,  under  Eng 
lish  ensigns,  perhaps  ?  Is  it  not  possible  for  him  to  pass  the 
Straits  of  Dover,  even,  as  an  English  squadron — your  own, 
for  instance — and  thus  deceive  the  Hanoverian  cruisers  until 
ready  to  seize  or  destroy  any  transports  that  may  be  sent  ?" 

"  Hardly,  Sir  Reginald,"  said  Bluewater,  smiling.  "  A 
French  ship  can  no  more  be  mistaken  for  an  English  ship, 
than  a  Frenchman  can  pass  for  a  Briton.  We  sailors  are 
not  as  easily  deceived  as  that  would  show.  It  is  true,  how 
ever,  that  a  fleet  might  well  stand  in  one  direction,  until  far 
enough  off  the  land  or  covered  by  night,  when  it  might 
change  its  course  suddenly,  in  an  opposite  direction ;  and  it 
is  possible  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  has  adopted  some  such 


274  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

stratagem.  If  he  actually  knew  of  the  intention  to  throw 
German  troops  into  the  island,  it  is  even  quite  probable.  In 
that  case,  for  one,  I  could  actually  wish  him  success !" 

"  Well,  my  dear  sir,  and  what  is  to  prevent  it?"  asked 
Sir  Reginald,  with  a  triumph  that  was  not  feigned.  "  No 
thing,  you  will  say,  unless  he  fall  in  with  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes.  But  you  have  not  answered  my  inquiry,  as  to  the 
manner  in  which  flag-officers  divide  their  commands,  at 
sea?" 

"  As  soldiers  divide  their  commands  ashore.  The  supe 
rior  orders,  and  the  inferior  obeys." 

"  Ay,  this  is  true ;  but  it  does  not  meet  my  question. 
Here  are  eleven  large  ships,  and  two  admirals ;  now  what 
portion  of  these  ships  are  under  your  particular  orders,  and 
what  portion  under  those  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  ?" 

"  The  vice-admiral  has  assigned  to  himself  a  division  of 
six  of  the  ships,  and  left  me  the  other  five.  Each  of  us  has 
his  frigates  and  smaller  vessels.  But  an  order  that  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  may  choose  to  give  any  captain  must  be 
obeyed  by  him,  as  the  inferior  submits,  as  a  rule,  to  the  last 
order." 

"  And  yow,"  resumed  Sir  Reginald,  with  quickness , 
"  how  are  you  situated,  as  respects  these  captains." 

"  Should  I  give  a  direct  order  to  any  captain  in  the  fleet, 
it  would  certainly  be  his  duty  to  obey  it;  though  circum 
stances  might  occur  which  would  render  it  obligatory  on 
him  to  let  me  know  that  he  had  different  instructions  from 
our  common  superior.  But,  why  these  questions,  Sir  Regi 
nald?" 

"  Your  patience,  my  dear  admiral ; — and  what  ships  have 
you  specifically  under  your  care  ?" 

"  The  Caesar,  my  own  ;  the  Dublin,  the  Elizabeth,  the 
York,  and  the  Dover.  To  these  must  be  added  the  Druid 
frigate,  the  sloop  of  war,  and  the  Gnat.  My  division 
numbers  eight  in  all." 

"  What  a  magnificent  force  to  possess  at  a  moment  as 
critical  as  this  ! — But  where  are  all  these  vessels  ?  I  see  but 
four  and  a  cutter,  and  only  two  of  these  seem  to  be  large." 

"  The  light  you  perceive  there,  along  the  land  to  the  west 
ward,  is  on  board  the  Elizabeth ;  and  that  broad  off  here, 
in  the  channel,  is  on  board  the  York.  The  Dover's  lantern 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  275 

has  disappeared  further  to  the  southward.  Ah !  there  the 
Dublin  casts,  and  is  off  after  the  others  !" 

"  And  you  intend  to  follow,  Admiral  Bluewater  ?" 

"  Within  an  hour,  or  I  shall  lose  the  division.  As  it  is, 
I  have  been  deliberating  on  the  propriety  of  calling  back  the 
stern  most  ships,  and  collecting  them  in  close  squadron ;  for 
this  increase  and  hauling  of  the  wind  render  it  probable  they 
will  lose  the  vice-admiral,  and  that  day-light  will  find  the 
Line  scattered  and  in  confusion.  One  mind  must  control  the 
movements  of  ships,  as  well  as  of  battalions,  Sir  Reginald, 
if  they  are  to  act  in  concert." 

"  With  what  view  would  you  collect  the  vessels  you  have 
mentioned,  and  in  the  manner  you  have  named,  if  you  do 
not  deem  my  inquiry  indiscreet  ?"  demanded  the  baronet* 
with  quickness, 

"  Simply  that  they  might  be  kept  together,  and  brought 
in  subjection  to  my  own  particular  signals.  This  is  the  duty 
that  more  especially  falls  to  my  share,  as  head  of  the  di 
vision." 

"  Have  you  the  means  to  effect  this,  here,  on  this  hill,  and 
by  yourself,  sir?" 

"  It  would  be  a  great  oversight  to  neglect  so  important  a 
provision.  My  signal-officer  is  lying  under  yonder  cover, 
wrapped  in  his  cloak,  and  two  quarter-masters  are  in  readi 
ness  to  make  the  very  signal  in  question  ;  for  its  necessity 
has  been  foreseen,  and  really  would  seem  to  be  approaching. 
If  done  at  all,  it  must  be  done  quickly,  too.  The  light 
of  the  York  grows,,  dim  in  the  distance.  It  shall  be  done, 
sir ;  prudence  requires  it,  and  you  shall  see  the  manner  in 
which  we  hold  our  distant  ships  in  command." 

Bluewater  could  not  have  announced  more  agreeable  in 
telligence  to  his  companion.  Sir  Reginald  was  afraid  to 
propose  the  open  treason  he  meditated ;  but  he  fancied,  if 
the  rear-admiral  could  fairly  withdraw  his  own  division  from 
the  fleet,  it  would  at  once  weaken  the  vice-admiral  so  much, 
as  to  render  an  engagement  with  the  French  impossible, 
and  might  lead  to  such  a  separation  of  the  commands  as  to 
render  the  final  defection  of  the  division  in-shore  easier  of 
accomplishment.  It  is  true,  Bluewater,  himself,  was  actuated 
by  motives  directly  contrary  to  these  wishes ;  but,  as  the 
parties  travelled  the  same  road  to  a  certain  point,  the  in^' 


276  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS 

triguing  baronet  had  his  expectations  of  being  able  to  per* 
suade  his  new  friend  to  continue  on  in  his  own  route. 

Promptitude  is  a  military  virtue,  and,  among  seamen,  iJ 
is  a  maxim  to  do  everything  that  is-  required  to  be  done, 
with  activity  and  vigour.  These  laws  were  not  neglected 
on  the  present,  occasion.  No  sooner  had  the  rear-admiral 
determined  on  his  course,  than  he  summoned  his  agents  to 
put  it  in  execution.  Lord  Geoffrey  had  returned  to  the 
heights  and  was  within  call,  and  he  carried  the  orders  to  the 
lieutenant  and  the  quarter-masters.  The  lanterns  only  re 
quired  lighting,  and  then  they  were  run  aloft  on  Button's 
staff,  as  regularly  as  the  same  duty  could  have  been  per 
formed  on  the  poop  of  the  Caesar.  Three  rockets  were 
thrown  up,  immediately  after,  and  the  gun  kept  on  the  cliffs 
for  that  purpose  was  fired,  to  draw  attention  to  the  signal. 
It  might  have  been  a  minute  ere  the  heavy  ordnance  of  the 
Csesar  repeated  the  summons,  and  the  same  signal  was  shown 
at  her  mast-head.  The  Dublin  was  still  so  near  that  no 
time  was  lost,  but  according  to  orders,  she  too  repeated  the 
signal  ;  for  in  the  line  that  night,  it  was  understood  that  an 
order  of  this  nature  was  to  be  sent  from  ship  to  ship. 

"  Now  for  the  Elizabeth  I"  cried  Bluewater ;  "  she  cannot 
fail  to  have  heard  our  guns,  and  to  see  our  signals." 

"The  York  is  ahead  of  her,  sir!"  exclaimed  the  boy; 
"  see ;  she  has  the  signal  up  already  !" 

All  this  passed  in  a  very  few  minutes,  the  last  ships  hav 
ing  sailed  in  the  expectation  of  receiving  some  such  recall. 
The  York  preceded  the  ship  next  to  her  jn  the  line,  in  con 
sequence  of  having  gone  about,  and  being  actually  nearer 
to  the  rear-admiral  than  her  second  astern.  It  was  but  a 
minute,  before  the  gun  and  the  lanterns  of  the  Elizabeth, 
however,  announced  her  knowledge  of  the  order,  also. 

The  two  ships  last  named  were  no  longer  visible  from  the 
cliffs,  though  their  positions  were  known  by  their  lights ;  but 
no  sign  whatever  indicated  the  part  of  the  ocean  on  which 
the  Dover  was  struggling  along  through  the  billows.  After 
a  pause  of  several  minutes,  Bluewater  spoke. 

"  I  fear  we  shall  collect  no  more,"  he  said ;  "  one  of  my 
ships  must  take  her  chance  to  find  the  commander-in-chief, 
alone.  Ha  ! — that  means  something  !" 

At  this  instant  a  faint,  distant  flash  was  seen,  for  a  single 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  277 

moment,  in  the  gloom,  and  then  all  heads  were  bent  forward 
to  listen,  in  breathless  attention.  A  little  time  had  elapsed, 
when  the  dull,  smothered  report  of  a  gun  proclaimed  that 
even  the  Dover  had  caught  the  rapidly  transmitted  order. 

"  What  means  that,  sir  7"  eagerly  demanded  Sir  Reginald, 
who  had  attended  to  everything  with  intense  expectation. 

"  It  means,  sir,  that  all  of  the  division  are  still  under  my 
command.  No  other  ship  would  note  the  order.  Their 
directions,  unless  specifically  pointed  out  by  their  numbers, 
must  come  from  the  vice-admiral.  Is  my  barge  ashore, 
Lord  Geoffrey  Cleveland?" 

"  It  is,  sir,  as  well  as  -the  cutter  for  Mr.  Cornet  and  the 
quarter-masters." 

"  It  is  well.  Gentlemen,  we  will  go  on  board ;  the  Caesar 
must  weigh  and  join  the  other  vessels  in  the  offing.  I  will 
follow  you  to  the  landing,  but  you  will  shove  off,  at  once, 
and  desire  Captain  Stowel  to  weigh  and  cast  to-port.  We 
will  fill  on  the  starboard  tack,  and  haul  directly  off  the 
land." 

The  whole  party  immediately  left  the  station,  hurrying 
down  to  the  boats,  leaving  Bluewater  and  Sir  Reginald  to 
follow  more  leisurely.  It  was  a  critical  moment  for  the 
baronet,  who  had  so  nearly  effected  his  purpose,  that  his 
disappointment  would  have  been  double  did  he  fail  of  his 
object  altogether.  He  determined,  therefore,  not  to  quit  the 
admiral  while  there  was  the  slightest  hope  of  success.  The 
two  consequently  descended  together  to  the  shore,  walking, 
for  the  first  minute  or  two,  in  profound  silence. 

"  A  great  game  is  in  your  hands,  Admiral  Bluewater," 
resumed  the  baronet ;  "  rightly  played,  it  may  secure  the 
triumph  of  the  good  cause.  I  think  I  may  say  I  know  do 
Vervillin's  object,  and  that  his  success  will  reseat  the  Stuarts 
on  the  thrones  of  their  ancestors !  One  who  loves  them 
should  ponder  well  before  he  does  aught  to  mar  so  glorious 
a  result." 

This  speech  was  as  bold  as  it  was  artful.  In  point  of 
fact,  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe  knew  no  more  of  the  Comte 
de  Vervillin's  intended  movements  than  his  companion  ;  but 
he  did  not  hesitate  to  assert  what  he  now  did,  in  order  to 
obtain  a  great  political  advantage,  in  a  moment  of  so  much 
importance.  To  commit  Bluewater  and  his  captains  openly 
24 


278  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

en  the  side  of  the  Stuarts  would  be  a  great  achievement  in 
itself;  to  frustrate  the  plans  of  Sir  Gervaise  might  safely  be 
accounted  another ;  and,  then,  there  were  all  the  chances 
that  the  Frenchman  was  not  at  sea  for  nothing,  and  that  his 
operations  might  indeed  succour  the  movements  of  the  prince. 
The  baronet,  upright  as  he  was  in  other  matters,  had  no 
scruples  of  conscience  on  this  occasion ;  having  long  since 
brought  himself  over  to  the  belief  that  it  was  justifiable  to 
attain  ends  as  great  as  those  he  had  in  view,  by  the  sacrifice 
of  any  of  the  minor  moral  considerations. 

The  effect  on  Bluewater  was  not  trifling.  The  devil  had 
placed  the  bait  before  his  eyes  in  a  most  tempting  form ;  for 
he  felt  that  he  hard  only  to  hold  his  division  in  reserve  to 
render  an  engagement  morally  improbable.  Abandon  his 
friend  to  a  superior  force  he  could  and  would  not ;  but,  it  is 
our  painful  duty  to  avow  that  his  mind  had  glimpses  of  the 
possibility  of  doing  the  adventurer  in  Scotland  a  great  good, 
without  doing  the  vice-admiral  and  the  van  of  the  fleet  any 
very  essential  harm.  Let  us  be  understood,  however.  The 
rear-admiral  did  not  even  contemplate  treason,  or  serious 
defection  of  any  sort ;  but,  through  one  of  those  avenues  of 
frailty  by  which  men  are  environed,  he  had  a  glance  at 
results  that  the  master-spirit  of  evil  momentarily  placed 
before  his  mental  vision  as  both  great  and  glorious. 

"  I  wish  we  were  really  certain  of  de  Vervillin's  object," 
he  said ;  the  only  concession  he  made  to  this  novel  feeling, 
in  words.  "  Tt  might,  indeed,  throw  a  great  light  on  the 
coux-se  we  ought  to  take  ourselves.  I  do  detest  this  German 
alliance,  and  would  abandon  the  service  ere  I  would  convoy 
or  transport  a  ragamuffin  of  them  all  to  England." 

Here  Sir  Reginald  proved  how  truly  expert  he  was  in  the 
arts  of  management.  A  train  of  thought  and  feeling  had 
been  lighted  in  the  mind  of  his  companion,  which  he  felt 
might  lead  to  all  he  wished,  while  he  was  apprehensive  that 
further  persuasion  would  awaken  opposition,  and  renew  old 
sentiments.  He  wisely  determined,  therefore,  to  leave  things 
as  they  were,  trusting  to  the  strong  and  declared  bias  of  the 
admiral  in  favour  of  the  revolution,  to  work  out  its  own 
consequences,  with  a  visible  and  all-important  advantage  so 
prominently  placed  before  his  eyes. 

"  I  know  nothing  cf  ships,"  he  answered,  modestly  ;  "  but 


THE    TWO    ADMIRAL*.  279 

I  do  know  that  the  Comte  has  our  succour  in  view.  It  would 
ill  become  me  to  advise  one  of  your  experience  how  to  lead 
a  force  like  this,  which  is  subject  to  your  orders ;  but,  a 
friend  of  the  good  cause,  who  is  now  in  the  west,  and  who 
was  lately  in  the  presence  itself,  tells  me  that  the  prince 
manifested  extreme  satisfaction  when  he  learned  how  much 
it  might  be  in  your  power  to  serve  him." 

"  Do  you  then  think  my  name  has  reached  the  royal 
ear,  and  that  the  prince  has  any  knowledge  of  my  real 
feelings?" 

"  Nothing  but  your  extreme  modesty  could  cause  you  to 
doubt  the  first,  sir ;  as  to  the  last,  ask  yourself  how  came  I 
to  approach  you  to-night,  with  my  heart  in  my  hand,  as  it 
might  be,  making  you  master  of  my  life  as  well  as  of  my 
secret.  Love  and  hatred  are  emotions  that  soon  betray 
themselves." 

It  is  matter  of  historical  truth  that  men  of  the  highest 
principles  and  strongest  minds  have  yielded  to  the  flattery 
of  rank.  Bluewater's  political  feelings  had  rendered  him 
indifferent  to  the  blandishments  of  the  court  at  London, 
while  his  imagination,  that  chivalrous  deference  to  antiquity 
and  poetical  right,  which  lay  at  the  root  of  his  Jacobitism, 
and  his  brooding  sympathies,  disposed  him  but  too  well  to 
become  the  dupe  of  language  like  this.  Had  he  been  more 
a  man  of  facts,  one  less  under  the  influence  of  his  own  ima 
gination  ;  had  it  been  his  good  fortune  to  live  even  in  con 
tact  with  those  he  now  so  devoutly  worshipped,  in  a  political 
sense  at  least,  their  influence  over  a  mind  as  just  and  clear 
sighted  as  his  own,  would  soon  have  ceased ;  but,  passing 
his  time  at  sea,  they  had  the  most  powerful  auxiliary  possi 
ble,  in  the  high  faculty  he  possessed  of  fancying  things  as 
he  wished  them  to  be.  No  wonder,  then,  that  he  heard 
this  false  assertion  of  Sir  Reginald  with  a  glow  of  pleasure; 
with  even  a  thrill  at  the  heart  to  which  he  had  long  been  a 
stranger.  For  a  time,  his  better  feelings  were  smothered  in 
this  new  and  treacherous  sensation. 

The  gentlemen,  by  this  time,  were  at  the  landing,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  separate.  The  barge  of  the  rear-admi 
ral  was  with  difficulty  kept  from  leaping  on  the  rock,  by 
means  of  oars  and  boat-hooks,  and  each  instant  rendered 
the  embarkation  more  and  more  difficult.  The  moments 


280  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

were  precious  on  more  accounts  than  one,  and  the  leave- 
takingVas  short.  Sir  Reginald  said  but  little,  though  he 
intended  the  pressure  of  the  hand  he  gave  his  companion  tc 
express  everything. 

"  God  be  with  you,"  he  added ;  "  and  as  you  prove  true, 
may  you  prove  successful !  Remember,  *  a  lawful  prince, 
and  the  claims  of  birth-right.'  God  be  with  you  !" 

"  Adieu,  Sir  Reginald  ;  when  we  next  meet,  the  future 
will  probably  be  more  apparent  to  us  all. — But  who  comes 
hither,  rushing  like  a  madman  towards  the  boat  ?" 

A  form  came  leaping  through  the  darkness ;  nor  was  it 
known,  until  it  stood  within  two  feet  of  Bluewater,  it  was 
that  of  Wycherly.  He  had  heard  the  guns  and  seen  the 
signals.  Guessing  at  the  reasons,  he  dashed  from  the  park, 
which  he  was  pacing  to  cool  his  agitation,  and  which  now 
owned  him  for  a  master,  and  ran  the  whole  distance  to  the 
shore,  in  order  not  to  be  left.  His  arrival  was  most  oppor 
tune  ;  for,  in  another  minute,  the  barge  left  the  rock. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

"  O'er  the  glad  waters  of  the  dark-blue  sea, 
Our  thoughts  as  boundless,  and  our  souk  as  free, 
Far  as  the  breeze  can  bear,  the  billows  foam, 
Survey  our  empire  and  behold  our  home !" 

The  Corsair. 

ONE  is  never  fully  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  movement 
that  agitates  the  bosom  of  the  ocean  until  fairly  subject  to 
its  action  himself,  when  indeed  we  all  feel  its  power  and 
reason  closely  on  its  dangers.  The  first  pitch  of  his  boat 
told  Bluewater  that  the  night  threatened  to  be  serious.  As 
the  lusty  oarsmen  bent  to  their  stroke,  the  barge  rose  on  a 
swell,  dividing  the'  foam  that  glanced  past  it  like  a  marine 
Aurora  Borealis,  and  then  plunged  into  the  trough  as  if  de 
scending  to  the  bottom.  It  required  several  united  and 
vigorous  efforts  to  force  the  little  craft  from  its  dangerous 


THE     TWO   ADMIRALS.  281 

vicinity  to  the  rocks,  and  to  get  it  in  perfect  command. 
This  once  done,  however,  the  well-practised  crew  urged  the 
barge  slowly  but  steadily  ahead. 

"  A  dirty  night !  —  a  dirty  night !"  muttered  Bluewater, 
unconsciously  to  himself;  "  we  should  have  had  a  wild 
berth,  had  we  rode  out  this  blow,  at  anchor.  Oakes  will 
have  a  heavy  time  of  it  out  yonder  in  the  very  chops  of  the 
channel,  with  a  westerly  swell  heaving  in  against  this  ebb." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  answered  Wycherly  ;  "  the  vice-admiral  will 
be  looking  out  for  us  all,  anxiously  enough,  in  the  morning." 

Not  another  syllable  did  Bluewater  utter  until  his  boat 
had  touched  the  side  of  the  Caesar.  He  reflected  deeply  on 
his  situation,  and  those  who  know  his  feelings  will  easily 
understand  that  his  reflections  were  not  altogether  free  from 
pain.  Such  as  they  were,  he  kept  them  to  himself,  however, 
and  in  a  man-of-war's  boat,  when  a  flag-officer  chooses  to  be 
silent,  it  is  a  matter  of  course  for  his  inferiors  to  imitate  his 
example. 

The  barge  was  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  land 
ing,  when  the  heavy  flap  of  the  Caesar's  main-top-sail  was 
heard,  as,  close-reefed,  it  struggled  for  freedom,  while  her 
crew  drew  its  sheets  down  to  the  blocks  on  the  lower  yard- 
arms.  A  minute  later  the  Gnat,  under  the  head  of  her  fore- 
and-afl-mainsail,  was  seen  standing  slowly  off  from  the 
land,  looking  in  the  darkness  like  some  half-equipped  shadow 
of  herself.  The  sloop  of  war,  too,  was  seen  bending  low  to  the 
force  of  the  wind,  with  her  mere  apology  of  a  topsail  thrown 
aback,  in  waiting  for  the  flag-ship  to  cast. 

The  surface  of  the  waters  was  a  sheet  of  glancing  foam, 
while  the  air  was  filled  with  the  blended  sounds  of  the  wash 
of  the  element,  and  the  roar  of  the  winds.  Still  there  was 
nothing  chilling  or  repulsive  in  the  temperature  of  the  air, 
which  was  charged  with  the  freshness  of  the  sea,  and  was 
bracing  and  animating,  bringing  with  it  the  flavour  that  a 
seaman  loves.  After  fully  fifteen  minutes'  severe  tugging  at 
the  oars,  the  barge  drew  near  enough  to  permit  the  black 
mass  of  the  Caesar  to  be  seen.  For  some  time,  Lord  Geof 
frey,  who  had  seated  himself  at  the  tiller, — yoke-lines  were 
not  used  a  century  since, — steered  by  the  top-light  of  the 
rear-admiral ;  but  now  the  maze  of  hamper  was  seen  waving 
slowly  to  and  fro  m  the  lurid  heavens,  and  the  huge  hull 
24* 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

became  visible,  heaving  and  setting,  as  if  the  ocean  groaned 
with  the  labour  of  lifting  such  a  pile  of  wood  and  iron.  A 
light  gleamed  from  the  cabin-windows,  and  ever  and  anon, 
one  glanced  athwart  an  open  gun-room  port.  In  all  other 
respects,  the  ship  presented  but  one  hue  of  blackness.  Nor 
was  it  an  easy  undertaking,  even  after  the  barge  was  under 
the  lee  of  the  ship,  for  those  in  it,  to  quit  its  uneasy  support 
and  get  a  firm  footing  on  the  elects  that  lined  the  vessel's 
side  like  a  ladder.  This  was  done,  however,  and  all  as 
cended  to  the  deck  but  two  of  the  crew,  who  remained  to 
hook-on  the  yard  and  stay-tackles.  This  effected,  the  shrill 
whistle  gave  the  word,  and  that  large  boat,  built  to  carry  at 
need  some  twenty  souls,  was  raised  from  the  raging  water, 
as  it  were  by  some  gigantic  effort  of  the  ship  herself,  and 
safely  deposited  in  her  bosom. 

"  We  are  none  too  soon,  sir,"  said  Stowel,  the  moment  he 
had  received  the  rear-admiral  with  the  customary  etiquette 
of  the  hour.  "  It 's  a  cap-full  of  wind  already,  and  it  pro 
mises  to  blow  harder  before  morning.  We  are  catted  and 
fished,  sir,  and  the  forecastle-men  are  passing  the  shank- 
painter,  at  this  moment." 

"  Fill,  sir,  and  stretch  off,  on  an  easy  bowline,"  was  the 
answer ;  "  when  a  league  in  the  offing,  let  me  know  it.  Mr. 
Cornet,  I  have  need  of  you,  in  my  cabin." 

As  this  was  said,  Bluewater  went  below,  followed  by  his 
signal-officer.  At  the  same  instant  the  first  lieutenant  called 
out  to  man  the  main-braces,  and  to  fill  the  topsail.  As  soon 
as  this  command  was  obeyed,  the  Csesar  started  ahead.  Her 
movement  was  slow,  but  it  had  a  majesty  in  it,  that  set  at 
naught  the  turbulence  of  the  elements. 

Bluewater  had  paced  to  and  fro  in  his  cabin  no  less  than 
six  times,  with  his  head  drooping,  in  a  thoughtful  attitude, 
ere  his  attention  was  called  to  any  external  object. 

"  Do  you  wish  my  presence,  Admiral  Bluewater  ?"  the 
signal-officer  at  length  inquired. 

"  I  ask  your  pardon,  Mr.  Cornet ;  I  was  really  uncon 
scious  that  you  were  in  the  cabin.  Let  me  see — ay — our 
last  signal  was,  '  division  come  within  hail  of  rear-admiral.' 
They  must  get  close  to  us,  to  be  able  to  do  that,  to-night, 
Cornet !  The  winds  and  waves  have  begun  their  song  in 
earnest.1' 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  283 

"And  yet,  sir,  I  '11  venture  a  month's  pay  that  Captain 
Drinkwater  brings  the  Dover  so  near  us,  as  to  put  the  officer 
of  the  deck  and  the  quarter-master  at  the  wheel  in  a  fever. 
We  once  made  that  signal,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  and  he  passed 
his  jib-boom-end  over  our  taffrail." 

"  He  is  certainly  a  most  literal  gentleman,  that  Captain 
Drinkwater,  but  he  knows  how  to  take  care  of  his  ship. 
Look  for  the  number  of  '  follow  the  rear-admiral's  motions.' 
'T  is  211,  I  think." 

"  No,  sir  ;  but  212.  Blue,  red  and  white,  with  the  flags. 
With  the  lanterns,  't  is  one  of  the  simplest  signals  we  have." 

"  We  will  make  it,  at  once.  When  that  is  done,  show 
*  the  rear-admiral ;  keep  in  his  wake,  in  the  general  ordei 
of  sailing.'  That  I  am  sure  is  204." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  you  are  quite  right.  Shall  I  show  the  second 
signal  as  soon  as  all  the  vessels  have  answered  the  first, 
sir  ?" 

"  That  is  my  intention,  Cornet.  When  all  have  answered, 
let  me  know  it." 

Mr.  Cornet  now  left  the  cabin,  and  Bluewater  took  a  seat 
in  an  arm-chair,  in  deep  meditation.  For  quite  half  an 
hour  the  former  was  busy  on  the  poop,  with  his  two  quarter 
masters,  going  through  the  slow  and  far  from  easy  duty  of 
making  night-signals,  as  they  were  then  practised  at  sea.  It 
was  some  time  before  the  most  distant  vessel,  the  Dover, 
gave  any  evidence  of  comprehending  the  first  order,  and 
then  the  same  tardy  operation  had  to  be  gone  through  with 
for  the  second.  At  length  the  sentinel  threw  open  the  cabin- 
door,  and  Cornet  reappeared.  During  the  whole  of  his  ab 
sence  on  deck,  Bluewater  had  not  stirred  ;  scarce  seemed 
to  breathe.  His  thoughts  were  away  from  his  ships,  and 
for  the  first  time,  in  the  ten  years  he  had  worn  a  flag,  he 
had  forgotten  the  order  he  had  given. 

"  The  signals  are  made  and  answered,  sir,"  said  Cornet, 
as  soon  as  he  had  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  table,  on 
which  the  rear-admiral's  elbow  was  leaning.  "  The  Dublin 
is  already  in  our  wake,  and  the  Elizabeth  is  bearing  down 
fast  on  our  weather-quarter ;  she  will  bring  herself  into  her 
station  in  ten  minutes." 

"  What  news  of  the  York  and  Dover,  Cornet  ?"  asked 
Bluewatw,  rousing  himself  from  a  fit  of  deep  abstraction. 


284 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 


"  The  York's  light  nears  us,  quite  evidently ;  though  that 
of  the  Dover  is  still  a  fixed  star,  sir,"  answered  the  lieu 
tenant,  chuckling  a  little  at  his  own  humour  ;  "  it  seems  no 
larger  than  it  did  when  we  first  made  it." 

"  It  is  something  to  have  made  it  at  all.  I  was  not  aware 
it  could  be  seen  from  deck  ?" 

"  Nor  can  it,  sir ;  but,  by  going  up  half-a-dozen  ratlins 
we  get  a  look  at  it.  Captain  Drink  water  bowses  up  hiy 
lights  to  the  gaff-end,  and  I  can  see  him  always  ten  minutes 
sooner  than  any  other  ship  in  the  fleet,  under  the  same  cir 
cumstances." 

"  Drinkwater  is  a  careful  officer ;  do  the  bearings  of  his 
light  alter  enough  to  tell  the  course  he  is  steering  ?" 

"  I  think  they  do,  sir,  though  our  standing  out  athwart 
his  line  of  sailing  would  make  the  change  slow,  of  course. 
Every  foot  we  get  to  the  southward,  you  know,  sir,  would 
throw  his  bearings  farther  west ;  while  every  foot  he  comes 
east,  would  counteract  that  change  and  throw  his  bearings 
further  south." 

"  That 's  very  clear ;  but,  as  he  must  go  three  fathoms 
to  our  one,  running  off  with  square  yards  before  such  a 
breeze,  I  think  we  should  be  constantly  altering  his  bear 
ings  to  the  southward." 

"  No  doubt  of  it,  in  the  world,  sir ;  and  that  is  just  what 
we  are  doing.  I  think  I  can  see  a  difference  of  half  a  point, 
already ;  but,  when  we  get  his  light  fairly  in  view  from  the 
poop,  we  shall  be  able  to  tell  with  perfect  accuracy." 

"  All  very  well,  Cornet.  Do  me  the  favour  to  desire 
Captain  Stowel  to  step  into  the  cabin ;  and  keep  a  bright 
look-out  for  the  ships  of  the  division.  Stay,  for  a  single  in 
stant  ;  what  particularly  sharp-eyed  youngster  happens  to 
belong  to  the  watch  on  deck  ?" 

"  I  know  none  keener  in  that  way  -than  Lord  Geoffrey 
Cleveland,  sir ;  he  can  see  all  the  roguery  that  is  going  on 
in  the  whole  fleet,  at  any  rate,  and  ought  to  see  other 
things." 

"  He  will  do  perfectly  well ;  send  the  young  gentleman  to 
me,  sir  ;  but,  first  inform  the  officer  of  the  watch  that  I  have 
need  of  him." 

Bluewater  was  unusually  fastidious  in  exercising  his  au 
thority  over  those  who  had  temporary  superiors  on  the 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  285 

assigned  duty  of  the  ship ;  and  he  never  sent  an  order  to 
any  of  the  watch,  without  causing  it  to  pass  through  the 
officer  of  that  watch.  He  waited  but  a  minute  before  the 
boy  appeared. 

"  Have  you  a  good  gripe  to-night,  boy  ?"  asked  the  rear- 
admiral,  smiling ;  "  or  will  it  be  both  hands  for  yourself  and 
none  for  the  king  ]  I  want  you  on  the  fore-top-gallant-yard, 
for  eight  or  ten  minutes." 

"  Well,  sir,  it 's  a  plain  road  there,  and  one  I  've  often 
travelled,"  returned  the  lad,  cheerfully. 

"  That  I  well  know  ;  you  are  certainly  no  skulk  when 
duty  is  to  be  done.  Go  aloft  then,  and  ascertain  if  the  lights 
of  any  of  Sir  Gervaise's  squadron  are  to  be  seen.  You  will 
remember  that  the  Dover  bears  somewhere  about  south-west 
from  us,  and  that  she  is  still  a  long  way  to  seaward.  I 
should  think  all  of  Sir  Gervaise's  ships  must  be  quite  as  far 
to  windward  as  that  point  would  bring  them,  but  much  fur 
ther  off.  By  looking  sharp  a  point  or  half  a  point  to  wind 
ward  of  the  Dover,  you  may  possibly  see  the  light  of  the 
Warspite,  and  then  we  shall  get  a  correct  idea  of  the  bear 
ings  of  all  the  rest  of  the  division — " 

"  Ay-ay-sir,"  interrupted  the  boy  ;  "  I  think  I  understand 
exactly  what  you  wish  to  know,  Admiral  Bluewater." 

"  That  is  a  natural  gift  at  sixteen,  my  lord,"  returned  the 
admiral,  smiling  ;  "  but  it  may  be  improved  a  little,  perhaps, 
by  the  experience  of  fifty.  Now,  it  is  possible  Sir  Gervaise 
may  have  gone  about,  as  soon  as  the  flood  made ;  in  which 
case  he  ought  to  bear  nearly  west  of  us,  and  you  will  also 
look  in  that  direction.  On  the  other  hand,  Sir  Gervaise 
may  have  stretched  so  far  over  towards  the  French  coast 
before  night  shut  in,  as  to  feel  satisfied  Monsieur  de  Vervil- 
lin  is  still  to  the  eastward  of  him  ;  in  which  case  he  would 
keep  off  a  little,  and  may,  at  this  moment,  be  nearly  ahead 
of  us.  So  that,  under  all  the  circumstances,  you  will  sweep 
the  horizon,  from  the  weather-beam  to  the  lee-bow,  ranging 
forward.  Am  I  understood,  now,  my  lord  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  think  you  are,"  answered  the  boy,  blushing 
at  his  own  impetuosity.  "  You  will  excuse  my  indiscretion, 
Admiral  Bluewater ;  but  I  thought  I  understood  all  you 
desired,  when  I  spoke  so  hastily." 

"  No  doubt  you  did,  Geoffrey,  but  you  perceive  you  did 


286  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

not.  Nature  has  made  you  quick  of  apprehension,  but  not 
quick  enough  to  foresee  all  an  old  man's  gossip.  Come 
nearer,  now,  and  let  us  shake  hands.  So  go  aloft,  and  hold 
on  well,  for  it  is  a  windy  night,  and  I  do  not  desire  to  lose 
you  overboard." 

The  boy  did  as  told,  squeezed  Bluewater's  hand,  and 
dashed  out  of  the  cabin  to  conceal  his  tears.  As  for  the 
rear-admiral,  he  immediately  relapsed  into  his  fit  of  forget- 
fulness,  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  Stowel. 

A  summons  to  a  captaia  does  not  as  immediately  produce 
a  visit,  on  board  a  vessel  of  war,  as  a  summons  to  a  mid 
shipman.  Captain  Stowel  was  busy  in  looking  at  the  man 
ner  in  which  his  boats  were  stowed,  when  Cornet  told  him 
of  the  rear-admiral's  request ;  and  then  he  had  to  give  some 
orders  to  the  first  lieutenant  concerning  the  fresh  meat  that 
had  been  got  off,  and  one  or  two  other  similar  little  things, 
before  he  was  at  leisure  to  comply. 

"  See  me,  do  you  say,  Mr.  Cornet ;  in  his  own  cabin,  as 
soon  as  it  is  convenient  ?"  he  at  length  remarked,  when  all 
these  several  offices  had  been  duly  performed. 

The  signal-officer  repeated  the  request,  word  for  word  as 
he  had  heard  it,  and  then  he  turned  to  take  another  look  at 
the  light  of  the  Dover.  As  for  Stowel,  he  cared  no  more 
for  the  Dover,  windy  and  dark  as  the  night  promised  to  be, 
than  the  burgher  is  apt  to  care  for  his  neighbour's  house 
when  the  whole  street  is  threatened  with  destruction.  To 
him  the  Caesar  was  the  great  centre  of  attraction,  and  Cornet 
paid  him  off  in  kind  ;  for,  of  all  the  vessels  in  the  fleet,  the 
Caesar  was  precisely  the  one  to  which  he  gave  the  least 
attention ;  and  this  for  the  simple  reason  that  she  was  the 
only  ship  to  which  he  never  gave,  or  from  which  he  never 
received,  a  signal. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Bluff,"  said  Stowel  to  the  first  lieutenant ; 
"  one  of  us  will  have  to  be  on  deck  most  of  the  night,  and 
I  '11  take  a  slant  below,  for  half  an  hour  first,  and  see  what 
the  admiral  wishes." 

Thus  saying,  the  captain  left  the  deck,  in  order  to  ascer- 
tain  his  superior's  pleasure.  Captain  Stowel  was  several 
years  the  senior  of  Bluewater,  having  actually  been  a  lieu 
tenant  in  one  of  the  frigates  in  which  the  rear-admiral  had 
served  as  a  midshipman ,  a  circumstance  to  which  he  occa- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS  287 

sionally  alluded  in  their  present  intercourse.  The  change 
in  the  relative  positions  was  the  result  of  the  family  influence 
of  the  junior,  who  had  passed  his  senior  in  the  grade  of 
master  and  commander ;  a  rank  that  then  brought  many  an 
honest  man  up  for  life,  in  the  English  marine.  At  the  age 
of  five-and-forty,  that  at  which  Bluewater  first  hoisted  his 
flag,  Stowel  was  posted ;  and  soon  after  he  was  invited  by 
his  old  shipmate,  who  had  once  had  him  under  him  as  his 
first  lieutenant  in  a  sloop  of  war,  to  take  th»  command  of 
his  flag-ship.  From  that  day  down  to  the  present  moment, 
the  two  officers  had  sailed  together,  whenever  they  sailed  at 
all,  perfectly  good  friends ;  though  the  captain  never  ap 
peared  entirely  to  forget  the  time  when  they  were  in  the 
aforesaid  frigate ;  one  a  gun-room  officer,  and  the  other  only 
a  "  youngster." 

Stowel  must  now  have  been  about  sixty-five ;  a  square, 
lard-featured,  red-faced  seaman,  who  knew  all  about  his 
ship,  from  her  truck  to  her  limber-rope,  but  who  troubled 
himself  very  little  about  anything  else.  He  had  married  a 
widow  when  he  was  posted,  but  was  childless,  and  had  long 
since  permitted  his  affections  to  wander  back  into  their  own 
channels ;  from  the  domestic  hearth  to  his  ship.  He  seldom 
spoke  of  matrimony,  but  the  little  he  saw  fit  to  say  on  the 
subject  was  comprehensive  and  to  the  point.  A  perfectly 
sober  man,  he  consumed  large  quantities  of  both  wine  and 
brandy,  as  well  as  of  tobacco,  and  never  seemed  to  be  the 
worse  for  either.  Loyal  he  was  by  political  faith,  and  he 
looked  upon  a  revolution,  let  its  object  be  what  it  might,  as 
he  would  have  regarded  a  mutiny  in  the  Cassar.  He  was 
exceedingly  pertinacious  of  his  rights  as  "  captain  of  his 
own  ship,"  both  ashore  and  afloat ;  a  disposition  that  pro 
duced  less  trouble  with  the  mild  and  gentlemanly  rear-ad 
miral,  than  with  Mrs.  Stowel.  If  we  add  that  this  plain 
sailor  never  looked  into  a  book,  his  proper  scientific  works 
excepted,  we  shall  have  said  all  of  him  that  his  connection 
with  our  tale  demands. 

"  Good-evening,  Admiral  Bluewater,"  said  this  true  tar, 
saluting  the  rear-admiral,  as  one  neighbour  would  greet 
another,  on  dropping  in  of  an  evening,  for  they  occupied 
different  cabins.  "  Mr.  Cornet  told  me  you  would  like  to 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

say  a  word  to  me,  before  I  turned  in  ;  if,  indeed,  turn  in  afc 
all,  I  do  this  blessed  night." 

"  Take  a  seat,  Stowel,  and  a  glass  of  this  sherry,  in  the 
bargain,"  Bluewater  answered,  kindly,  showing  how  well  he 
understood  his  man,  by  the  manner  in  which  he  shoved  both 
bottle  and  glass  within  reach  of  his  hand.  "  How  goes  the 
night  ? — and  is  this  wind  likely  to  stand  ?" 

"  I  'm  of  opinion,  sir, — we  '11  drink  His  Majesty,  if  you  've 
no  objection,  Admiral  Bluewater, — I  'm  of  opinion  we  shall 
stretch  the  threads  of  that  new  main-top-sail,  before  we  've 
done  with  the  breeze,  sir.  I  believe  I  've  not  told  you,  yet, 
that  I  've  had  the  new  sail  bent,  since  we  last  spoke  together 
on  the  subject.  It 's  a  good  fit,  sir ;  and,  close-reefed,  the 
sail  stands  like  the  side  of  a  house." 

"  I  'm  glad  to  hear  it,  Stowel ;  though  I  think  all  your 
canvass  usually  appears  to  be  in  its  place." 

"  Why  you  know,  Admiral  Bluewater,  that  I  've  been 
long  enough  at  it,  to  understand  something  about  the  matter. 
It  is  now  more  than  forty  years  since  we  were  in  the  Calypso 
together,  and  ever  since  that  time  I  've  borne  the  commis 
sion  of  an  officer.  You  were  then  a  youngster,  and  thought 
more  of  your  joke,  than  of  bending  sails,  or  of  seeing  how 
they  would  stand." 

"  There  wasn't  much  of  me,  certainly,  forty  years  ago, 
Stowel ;  but  I  well  remember  the  knack  you  had  of  making 
every  robin,  sheet,  bowline,  and  thread  do  its  duty,  then,  as 
you  do  to-day.  By  the  way,  can  you  tell  me  anything  of 
the  Dover,  this  evening  ?" 

"  Not  I,  sir ;  she  came  out  with  the  rest  of  us  I  suppose, 
and  must  be  somewhere  in  the  fleet ;  though  I  dare  say  the 
log  will  have  it  all,  if  she  has  been  anywhere  near  us, 
lately.  I  am  sorry  we  did  not  go  into  one  of  the  watering- 
ports,  instead  of  this  open  roadstead,  for  we  must  be  at  least 
twenty-seven  hundred  gallons  short  of  what  we  ought  to 
have,  by  my  calculation  ;  and  then  we  want  a  new  set  of 
light  spars,  pretty  much  all  round ;  and  the  lower  hold 
hasn't  as  many  barrels  of  provision  in  it,  by  thirty-odd,  as 
I  could  wish  to  see  there." 

"  I  leave  these  things  to  you,  entirely,  Stowel ;  you  will 
report  in  time  to  keep  the  ship  efficient." 

"  No  fear  of  the  Ceesar,  sir ;  for,  between  Mr.  Bluff",  the 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

master,  and  myself,  we  know  pretty  much  all  about  her  ; 
though  I  dare  say  there  are  men  in  the  fleet  who  can  tell  you 
more  about  the  Dublin,  or  the  Dover,  or  the  York.  We 
will  drink  the  queen,  and  all  the  royal  family,  if  you  please, 
sir." 

As  usual,  Bluewater  merely  bowed,  for  his  companion 
required  no  further  acquiescence  in  his  toasts.  Just  at  that 
moment,  too,  it  would  have  needed  a  general  order,  at  least, 
to  induce  him  to  drink  any  of  the  family  of  the  reigning 
house. 

"  Oakes  must  be  well  off,  mid-channel,  by  this  time, 
Captain  Stowel  ?" 

"  I  should  think  he  might  be,  sir ;  though  I  can't  say  I 
took  particular  notice  of  the  time  he  sailed.  I  dare  say  it 's 
all  in  the  log.  The  Plantagenet  is  a  fast  ship,  sir,  and 
Captain  Greenly  understands  her  trim,  and  what  she  can 
do  on  all  tacks  ;  and,  yet,  I  do  think  His  Majesty  has  one 
ship  in  this  fleet  that  can  find  a  Frenchman  quite  as  soon, 
and  deal  with  him,  when  found,  quite  as  much  to  the  pur- 
oose." 

"  Of  course  you  mean  the  Caesar  ; — well,  I  'm  quite  of 
your  way  of  thinking,  though  Sir  Gervaise  manages  never 
to  be  in  a  slow  ship.  I  suppose  you  know,  Stowel,  that 
Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  out,  and  that  we  may  expect  to  see 
or  hear  something  of  him,  to-morrow." 

"  Yes,  sir,  there  is  some  such  conversation  in  the  ship,  I 
know  ;  but  the  quantity  of  galley-news  is  so  great  in  this 
squadron,  that  I  never  attend  much  to  what  is  said.  One  of 
the  officers  brought  off  a  rumour,  I  believe,  that  there  was  a 
sort  of  a  row  in  Scotland.  By  the  way,  sir,  there  is  a  su 
pernumerary  lieutenant  on  board,  and  as  he  has  joined 
entirely  without  orders,  I  'm  at  a  loss  how  to  berth  or  to  pro 
vision  him.  We  can  treat  the  gentleman  hospitably  to 
night  ;  but  in  the  morning  I  shall  be  obliged  to  get  him 
regularly  on  paper." 

"  You  mean  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  ;  he  shall  come 
into  my  mess,  rather  than  give  you  any  trouble." 

"  I  shall  not  presume  to  meddle  with  any  gentleman  you 
may  please  to  invite  into  your  cabin,  sir,"  answered  Stowel, 
with  a  stiff  bow,  in  the  way  of  apology.  "  That 's  what  I 
25 


290  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

always  tell  Mrs.  Stowel,  sir ; — that  my  cabin  is  my  own, 
and  even  a  wile  has  no  right  to  shake  a  broom  in  it." 

"  Which  is  a  great  advantage  to  us  seamen  ;  for  i't  gives 
us  a  citadel  to  retreat  to,  when  the  outworks  are  piessed. 
You  appear  to  take  but  little  interest  in  this  civil  war, 
Stowel  1" 

"  Then  it 's  true,  is  it,  sir  1  I  didn't  know  but  it  might  turn 
out  to  be  galley-news.  Pray  what  is  the  rumpus  all  about, 
Admiral  Bluewater  ;  for,  I  never  could  get  that  story  fidded 
properly,  so  as  to  set  up  the  rigging,  and  have  the  spar  well 
stayed  in  its  place." 

"  It  is  merely  a  war  to  decide  who  shall  be  king  of  Eng- 
and  ;  nothing  else,  I  do  assure  you,  sir." 

"  They  're  an  uneasy  set  ashore,  sir,  if  the  truth  must  be 
said  of  them  !  We  've  got  one  king,  already ;  and  on  what 
principle  does  any  man  wish  for  more?  Now,  there  was 
Captain  Blakely,  from  the  Elizabeth,  on  board  of  me  this 
afternoon  ;  and  we  talked  the  matter  over  a  little,  and  both 
of  us  concluded  that  they  got  these  things  up  much  as  a 
matter  of  profit  among  the  army  contractors,  and  the  dealers 
in  warlike  stores." 

Bluewater  listened  with  intense  interest,  for  here  was 
proof  how  completely  two  of  his  captains,  at  least,  would  be 
at  his  own  command,  and  how  little  they  would  be  likely, 
for  a  time,  at  least,  to  dispute  any  of  his  orders.  He  thought 
of  Sir  Reginald,  and  of  the  rapture  with  which  he  would 
have  received  this  trait  of  nautical  character. 

"  There  are  people  who  set  their  hearts  on  the  result,  not 
withstanding,"  carelessly  observed  the  rear-admiral ;  "  and 
some  who  see  their  fortunes  marred  or  promoted,  by  the 
success  or  downfall  of  the  parties.  They  think  de  Vervillin 
is  out  on  some  err-and  connected  with  this  rising  in  the 
north." 

"  Well,  T  don't  see  what  he  has  got  to  do  with  the  matter 
at  all ;  for,  I  don't  suppose  that  King  Louis  is  such  a  fool 
as  to  expect  to  be  king  of  England  as  well  as  king  of 
France !" 

"  The  dignity  would  be  too  much  for  one  pair  of  shoulders 
to  bear.  As  well  might  one  admiral  wish  to  command  all 
the  divisions  of  his  own  fleet,  though  they  were  fifty  leagues 
asunder." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  291 

"  Or  one  captain  two  ships ;  or  what  is  more  to  the  pur 
pose,  sir,  one  ship  to  keep  two  captains.  We  '11  drink  to 
discipline,  if  you  've  no  objection,  sir.  'T  is  the  soul  of 
order  and  quiet,  ashore  or  afloat.  For  my  part,  I  want  no 
co-equal — I  believe  that 's  the  cant  word  they  use  on  such 
occasions — but  I  want  no  co-equal,  in  the  Ca3sar,  and  I  arn 
unwilling  to  have  one  in  the  house  at  Greenwich ;  though 
Mrs.  Stowel  thinks  differently.  Here 's  my  ship  ;  she  's  in 
her  place  in  the  line ;  it 's  my  business  to  see  she  is  fit  for 
any  service  that  a  first-class  two-decker  can  undertake,  and 
that  duty  I  endeavour  to  perform ;  and  I  make  no  doubt  it 
is  all  the  better  performed  because  there 's  no  wife  or  co 
equal  aboard  here.  Where  the  ship  is  to  go,  and  what 
she  is  to  do,  are  other  matters,  which  I  take  from  general 
orders,  special  orders,  or  signals.  Let  them  act  up  to  this 
principle  in  London,  and  we  should  hear  no  more  of  dis 
turbances,  north  or  south." 

"Certainly,  Stowel,  your  doctrine  would  make  a  quiet 
nation,  as  well  as  a  quiet  ship.  I  hope  you  do  me  the  justice 
to  think  there  is  no  co-equal  in  my  commands  ?" 

"  That  there  is  not,  sir — and  I  have  the  honour  to  drink 
your  health  —  that  there  is  not.  When  we  were  in  the 
Calypso  together,  I  had  the  advantage  ;  and  I  must  say  that 
I  never  had  a  youngster  under  me  who  ever  did  his  duty 
more  cheerfully.  Since  that  day  we  've  shifted  places  ;  end 
for  end,  as  one  might  say  ;  and  I  endeavour  to  pay  you,  in 
your  own  coin.  There  is  no  man  whose  orders  I  obey  more 
willingly  or  more  to  my  own  advantage ;  always  excepting 
those  of  Admiral  Oakes,  who,  being  commander-in-chief,  over 
lays  us  all  with  his  anchor.  We  must  dowse  our  peaks  to 
his  signals,  though  we  can  maintain,  without  mutinying, 
that  the  Caesar  is  as  good  a  boat,  on  or  off  a  wind,  ns  the 
Plantagenet,  the  best  day  Sir  Jarvy  ever  saw." 

"  There  is  no  manner  of  doubt  of  that.  You  have  all  the 
notions  of  a  true  sailor,  I  find,  Stowel ;  obey  orders  before 
all  other  things.  I  am  curious  to  know  how  our  captains, 
generally,  stand  affected  to  this  claim  which  the  Pretender 
has  set  up  to  the  throne  ?" 

"  Can't  tell  you,  on  my  soul,  sir  ;  though  I  fancy  few  of 
them  give  themselves  any  great  anxiety  in  the  matter. 
When  the  wind  is  fair  we  can  run  off  large,  and  when  it  is 


292  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

foul  we  must  haul  upon  a  bowline,  let  who  will  reign.  I 
was  a  youngster  under  Queen  Anne,  and  she  was  a  Stuart, 
I  believe ;  and  I  have  served  under  the  German  family  ever 
since ;  and  to  be  frank  with  you,  Admiral  Bluewater,  I  see 
but  little  difference  in  the  duty,  the  pay,  or  the  rations.  My 
maxim  is  to  obey  orders,  and  then  I  know  the  blame  will 
fall  on  them  that  give  them,  if  anything  goes  wrong." 

"  We  have  many  Scotchmen  in  the  fleet,  Stowel,"  ob 
served  the  rear-admiral,  in  a  musing  manner,  like  one  who 
rather  thought  aloud  than  spoke.  "  Several  of  the  captains 
are  from  north  of  Tweed." 

"  Ay,  sir,  one  is  pretty  certain  of  meeting  gentlemen  from 
that  part  of  the  island,  in  almost  all  situations  in  life.  I 
never  have  understood  that  Scotland  had  much  of  a  navy  in 
ancient  times,  and  yet  the  moment  old  England  has  to  pay 
for  it,  the  lairds  are  willing  enough  to  send  their  children  4o 
sea." 

"  Nevertheless  it  must  be  owned  that  they  make  gallam 
and  useful  officers,  Stowel." 

"  No  doubt  they  do,  sir ;  but  gallant  and  useful  men  are 
not  scarce  anywhere.  You  and  I  are  too  old  and  too  expe 
rienced,  Admiral  Bluewater,  to  put  any  faith  in  the  notion 
that  courage  belongs  to  any  particular  part  of  the  world,  or 
usefulness  either.  I  never  fought  a  Frenchman  yet  that  I 
thought  a  coward ;  and,  in  my,  judgment,  there  are  brave 
men  enough  in  England  to  command  all  her  ships,  and  to 
fight  them  too." 

"  Let  this  be  so,  Stowel,  still  we  must  take  things  as  they 
come.  What  do  you  think  of  the  night?" 

"  Dirty  enough  before  morning,  I  should  think,  sir,  though 
it  is  a  little  out  of  rule,  that  it  does  not  rain  with  this  wind, 
already.  The  next  time  we  come-to,  Admiral  Bluewater,  I 
intend  to  anchor  with  a  shorter  scope  of  cable  than  we  have 
been  doing  lately ;  for,  I  begin  to  think  there  is  no  use  in 
wetting  so  many  yarns  in  the  summer  months.  They  tell 
me  the  York  brings  up  always  on  forty  fathoms." 

"  That 's  a  short  range,  I  should  think,  for  a  heavy  ship. 
But  here  is  a  visiter." 

The  sentinel  opened  the  cabin-door,  and  Lord  Geoffrey, 
with  his  cap  fastened  to  his  head  by  a  pocket-handkerchief, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  293 

and  his  face  red  with  exposure  to  the  wind,  entered  the 
cabin. 

"  Well,"  said  Bluewater,  quietly  ;  "  what  is  the  report 
from  aloft  ?" 

"  The  Dover  is  running  down  athwart  our  forefoot,  and 
nearing  us  fast,  sir,"  returned  the  midshipman.  "  The  York 
is  close  on  our  weather-beam,  edging  in  to  her  station  ;  but 
I  can  make  out  nothing  ahead  of  us,  though  I  was  on  the 
yard  twenty  minutes." 

"  Did  you  look  well  on  the  weather-beanr,  and  thence 
forward  to  the  lee-bow  ?" 

"  I  did,  sir ;  if  any  light  is  in  view,  better  eyes  than  mine 
must  find  it." 

Stowel  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  as  this  short  conver 
sation  was  held ;  but,  as  soon  as  there  was  a  pause,  he  put 
in  a  word  in  behalf  of  the  ship. 

"  You  've  been  up  forward,  my  lord  ?"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  I  have,  Captain  Stowel." 

"  And  did  you  think  of  seeing  how  the  heel  of  the  top 
gallant-mast  stood  it,  in  this  sea  1  Bluff  tells  me  't  is  too 
loose  to  be  fit  for  very  heavy  weather." 

"  I  did  not,  sir.  I  was  sent  aloft  to  look  out  for  the  ships 
of  the  commander-in-chief's  division,  and  didn't  think  of  the 
heel  of  the  top-gallant-mast's  being  too  loose,  at  all." 

"  Ay,  that 's  the  way  with  all  the  youngsters,  now-a-days. 
In  my  time,  or  even  in  yours,  Admiral  Bluewater,  we  never 
put  our  feet  on  a  ratlin,  but  hands  and  eyes  were  at  work, 
until  we  reached  the  halting  place,  even  though  it  should  be 
the  truck.  That  is  the  manner  to  know  what  a  ship  is  made 
of!" 

"  I  kept  my  hands  and  eyes  at  work,  too,  Captain  Stowel ; 
but  it  was  to  hold  on  well,  and  to  look  out  well." 

"  That  will  never  do — that  will  never  do,  if  you  wish  to 
make  yourself  a  sailor.  Begin  with  your  own  ship  first; 
learn  all  about  her,  and  then,  when  you  get  to  be  an 
admiral,  as  your  father's  son,  my  lord,  will  be  certain  to 
become,  it  will  be  time  enough  to  be  inquiring  about  the  rest 
of  the  fleet." 

"  You  forget,  Captain  Stowel — " 

"  That  wi'l  do,  Lord  Geoffrey,"  Bluewater  soothingly  in- 
terposed,  for  he  knew  that  t  ie  captain  preached  no  more 
25* 


294  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

than  he  literally  practised ;  "  if  /  am  satisfied  with  your 
report,  no  one  else  has  a  right  to  complain.  Desire  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  to  meet  me  on  deck,  where  we  will 
now  go,  Stowel,  and  take  a  look  at  the  weather  for  our 
selves." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  Admiral  Bluewater,  though  I  '11  just 
drink  the  First  Lord's  health  before  we  quit  this  excellent 
liquor.  That  youngster  has  stuff  in  him,  in  spite  of  his 
nobility,  and  by  fetching  him  up,  with  round  turns,  occa 
sionally,  I  hope  to  make  a  man  of  him,  yet." 

"  If  he  do  not  grow  into  that  character,  physically  and 
morally,  within  the  next  few  years,  sir,  he  will  be  the  first 
person  of  his  family  who  has  ever  failed  of  it." 

As  Bluewater  said  this,  he  and  the  captain  left  his  cabin, 
and  ascended  to  the  quarter-deck.  Here  Stowel  stopped  to 
hold  a  consultation  with  his  first  lieu-tenant,  while  the  ad 
miral  went  up  the  poop-ladder,  and  joined  Cornet.  The 
last  had  nothing  new  to  communicate,  and  as  he  was  per 
mitted  to  go  below,  he  was  desired  to  send  Wycherly  up  to 
the  poop,  where  the  young  man  would  be  expected  by  the 
rear-admiral. 

Some  little  time  elapsed  before  the  Virginian  could  be 
found  ;  no  sooner  was  this  effected,  however,  than  he  joined 
Bluewater.  They  had  a  private  conversation  of  fully  half 
an  hour,  pacing  the  poop  the  whole  time,  and  then  Cornet 
was  summoned  back,  again,  to  his  usual  station.  The  latter 
immediately  received  an  order  to  acquaint  Captain  Stowel 
the  rear-admiral  desired  that  the  Caesar  might  be  hove- 
to,  and  to  make  a  signal  for  the  Druid  36,  to  come  under 
the  flag-ship's  lee,  and  back  her  main-top-sail.  No  sooner 
did  this  order  reach  the  quarter-deck  than  the  watch  was 
sent  to  the  braces,  and  the  main-yard  was  rounded  in,  until 
the  portion  of  sail  that  was  still  set  lay  against  the  mast. 
This  deadened  the  way  of  the  huge  body,  which  rose  and 
fell  heavily  in  the  seas,  as  they  washed  under  her,  scarcely 
large  enough  to  lift  the  burthen  it  imposed  upon  them.  Just 
at  this  instant,  the  signal  was  made. 

The  sudden  check  to  the  movement  of  the  Caesar  brought 
the  Dublin  booming  up  in  the  darkness,  when  putting  her 
helm  up,  that  ship  surged  slowly  past  to  leeward,  resembling 
e  black  mountain  moving  by  in  the  gloom.  She  was  hailed 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS, 


295 


and  directed  to  heave-to,  also,  as  soon  as  far  enough  ahead. 
The  Elizabeth  followed,  clearing  the  flag-ship  by  mere!y 
twenty  fathoms,  and  receiving  a  similar  order.  The  Druid 
had  been  on  the  admiral's  weather-quarter,  but  she  now 
came  gliding  down,  with  the  wind  abeam,  taking  room  to 
back  her  top-sail  under  the  Caesar's  lee-bow.  By  this  time 
a  cutter  was  in  the  water,  rising  six  or  eight  feet  up  the 
black  side  of  the  ship,  and  sinking  as  low  apparently  be 
neath  her  bottom,  and  then  Wycherly  reported  himself  as 
ready  to  proceed. 

"  You  will  not  forget,  sir,"  said  Bluewater,  "  any  part 
of  my  commission  ;  but  inform  the  commander-in-chief  of 
the  whole.  It  may  be  important  that  we  understand  each 
other  fully.  You  will  also  hand  him  this  letter  which  I 
have  hastily  written  while  the  boat  was  getting  ready." 

"  I  think  I  understand  your  wishes,  sir  ; — at  least,  I  hope 
so ; — and  I  will  endeavour  to  execute  them." 

"  God  bless  you,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,"  added 
Bluewater,  with  emotion.  "  We  may  never  meet  again  ; 
we  sailors  carry  uncertain  lives ;  and  we  may  be  said  to 
carry  them  in  our  hands." 

Wycherly  took  his  leave  of  the  admiral,  and  he  ran 
down  the  poop-ladder  to  descend  into  the  boat.  Twice  he 
paused  on  the  quarter-deck,  however,  in  the  manner  of  one 
who  felt  disposed  to  return  and  ask  some  explanation  ;  but 
each  time  he  moved  on,  decided  to  proceed. 

It  needed  all  the  agility  of  our  young  sailor  to  get  safely 
into  the  boat.  This  done,  the  oars  fell  and  the  cutter  was 
driven  swiftly  away  to  leeward.  In  a  few  minutes,  it  shot 
beneath  the  lee  of  the  frigate,  and  discharged  its  freight. 
Wycherly  could  not  have  been  three  minutes  on  the  deck 
of  the  Druid,  ere  her  yards  were  braced  up,  and  her  top 
sail  filled  with  a  heavy  flap.  This  caused  her  to  draw 
slowly  ahead.  Five  minutes  later,  however,  a  white  cloud 
was  seen  dimly  fluttering  over  her  hull,  and  the  reefed  main 
sail  was  distended  to  the  wind.  The  effect  was  so  instanta 
neous  that  the  frigate  seemed  to  glide  away  from  the  flag 
ship,  and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  under  her  three  top-sails 
double-reefed,  and  her  courses,  she  was  a  mile  distant  on 
her  weather-bow.  Those  who  watched  her  movements 
without  understanding  them,  observed  that  she  lowered  her 


296 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 


light,  and  appeared  to  detach  herself  from  the  rest  of  the 
division. 

It  was  some  time  before  the  Caesar's  boat  was  enabled  to 
pull  up  against  the  tide,  wind,  and  sea.  When  this  hard 
task  was  successfully  accomplished,  the  ship  filled,  passed 
the  Dublin  and  Elizabeth,  and  resumed  her  place  in  the  line. 

Bluewater  paced  the  poop  an  hour  longer,  having  dis 
missed  his  signal-officer  and  the  quarter-masters  to  their 
hammocks.  Even  Stowel  had  turned  in,  nor  did  Mr.  Bluff 
deem  it  necessary  to  remain  on  deck  any  longer.  At  the 
end  of  the  hour,  the  rear-admiral  bethought  him  of  retiring 
too.  Before  he  quitted  the  poop,  however,  he  stood  at  the 
weather-ladder,  holding  on  to  the  mizzen-rigging,  and  gazing 
at  the  scene. 

The  wind  had  increased,  as  had  the  sea,  but  it  was  not 
yet  a  gale.  The  York  had  long  before  hauled  up  in  her 
station,  a  cable's  length  ahead  of  the  Ccesar,  and  was  stand 
ing  on,  under  the  same  canvass  as  the  flag-ship,  looking 
stately  and  black.  The  Dover  was  just  shooting  into  her 
berth,  under  the  standing  sailing-orders,  at  the  same  dis 
tance  ahead  of  the  York  ;  visible,  but  much  less  distinct  and 
imposing.  The  sloop  and  the  cutter  were  running  along,  under 
the  lee  of  the  heavy  ships,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  each 
vessel  keeping  her  relative  position,  by  close  attention  to 
her  canvass.  Further  than  this,  nothing  was  in  sight.  The 
sea  had  that  wild  mixture  of  brightness  and  gloom,  which 
belongs  to  the  element  when  much  agitated  in  a  dark  night, 
while  the  heavens  were  murky  and  threatening. 

Within  the  ship,  all  was  still.  Here  and  there  a  lantern 
threw  its  wavering  light  around,  but  the  shadows  of  the 
masts  and  guns,  and  other  objects,  rendered  this  relief  to 
the  night  trifling.  The  lieutenant  of  the  watch  paced  the 
weather  side  of  the  quarter-deck,  silent  but  attentive.  Occa 
sionally  he  hailed  the  look-outs,  and  admonished  them  to  be 
vigilant,  also,  and  at  each  turn  he  glanced  upward  to  see 
how  the  top-sail  stood.  Four  or  five  old  and  thoughtful  sea 
men  walked  the  waist  and  forecastle,  but  most  of  the  watch 
were  stowed  between  the  guns,  or  in  the  best  places  they 
could  find,  under  the  lee  of  the  bulwarks,  catching  cat's 
naps.  This  was  an  indulgence  denied  the  young  gentlemen, 
of  whcrm  one  was  on  the  forecastle,  leaning  against  the 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  297 

mast,  dreaming  of  home,  one  in  the  waist,  supporting  the 
nettings,  and  one  walking  the  lee-side  of  the  quarter-deck, 
his  eyes  shut,  his  thoughts  confused,  and  his  footing  uncer 
tain.  As  Bluewater  stepped  on  the  quarter-deck-ladder,  to 
descend  to  his  own  cabin,  the  youngster  hit  his"foot  against 
an  eye-bolt,  and  fetched  away  plump  up  against  his  superior. 
Bluewater  caught  the  lad  in  his  arms,  and  saved  him  from 
a  fall,  setting  him  fairly  on  his  feet  before  he  let  him  go. 

"  'T  is  seven  bells,  Geoffrey,"  said  the  admiral,  in  an 
under  tone.  "  Hold  on  for  half  an  hour  longer,  and  then 
go  dream  of  your  dear  mother." 

Before  the  boy  could  recover  himself  to  thank  his  supe 
rior,  the  latter  had  disappeared. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

"  Yet  notwithstanding,  being  incensed,  he  *s  flint; 
As  humorous  as  winter,  and  as  sudden 
As  flaws  congealed  in  the  spring  of  day. 
His  temper,  therefore,  must  be  well  observed." 

SHAKSPEARE. 

THE  reader  will  remember  that  the  wind  had  not  become 
fresh  when  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  got  into  his  barge,  with  the 
intention  of  carrying  his  fleet  to  sea.  A  retrospective  glance 
at  the  state  of  the  weather,  will  become  necessary  to  the 
reader,  therefore,  in  carrying  his  mind  back  to  that  precise 
period,  whither  it  has  now  become  our  duty  to  transport 
riim  in  imagination. 

The  vice-admiral  governed  a  fleet  on  principles  very  dif 
ferent  from  those  of  Bluewater.  While  the  last  left  so  much 
to  the  commanders  of  the  different  vessels,  his  friend  looked 
into  everything  himself.  The  details  of  the  service  he  knew 
were  indispensable  to  success  on  a  larger  scale,  and  his 
active  mind  descended  into  all  these  minutiae,  to  a  degree 
sometimes,  that  annoyed  his  captains.  On  the  whole,  how- 


298  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ever,  he  was  sufficiently  observant  of  that  formidable  barrier 
to  excessive  familiarity,  and  that  great  promoter  of  heart 
burnings  in  a  squadron,  naval  etiquette,  to  prevent  anything 
like  serious  misunderstandings,  and  the  best  feelings  pre 
vailed  between  him  and  the  several  magnates  under  his 
orders.  Perhaps  the  circumstance  that  he  was  a  fighting 
aumiral  contributed  to  this  internal  tranquillity  ;  for,  it  has 
been  often  remarked,  that  armies  and  fleets  will  both  tolerate 
more  in  leaders  that  give  them  plenty  to  do  with  the 
enemy,  than  in  commanders  who  leave  them  inactive  and 
less  exposed.  The  constant  encounters  with  the  foe  would 
seem  to  let  out  all  the  superfluous  quarrelsome  tendencies. 
Nelson,  to  a  certain  extent,  was  an  example  of  this  influence 
in  the  English  marine,  SufFren*  in  that  of  France,  and 
Preble,  to  a  much  greater  degree  than  in  either  of  the  other 
cases,  in  our  own.  At  all  events,  while  most  of  his  captains 
sensibly  felt  themselves  less  of  commanders,  while  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  was  on  board  or  around  their  ships,  than  when  he  was 
in  the  cabin  of  the  Plantagenet,  the  peace  was  rarely  broken 
between  them,  and  he  was  generally  beloved  as  well  as 
obeyed.  Bluewater  was  a  more  invariable  favourite,  per 
haps,  though  scarcely  as  much  respected  ;  and  certainly 
not  half  as  much  feared. 

On  the  present  occasion,  the  vioe-admiral  did  not  pull 
through  the  fleet,  without  discovering  the  peculiar  propen 
sity  to  which  we  have  alluded.  In  passing  one  of  the  ships, 
he  made  a  sign  to  his  coxswain  to  cause  the  boat's  crew  to 
lay  on  their  oars,  when  he  hailed  the  vessel,  and  the  follow 
ing  dialogue  occurred. 

"  Carnatic,  ahoy  !"  cried  the  admiral. 

*  Suffren,  though  one  of  the  best  sea-captains  France  ever  possessed, 
was  a  man  of  extreme  severity  and  great  roughness  of  manner.  Still 
he  must  have  been  a  man  of  family,  as  his  title  of  Bailli  de  Suffren, 
was  derived  from  his  being  a  Knight  of  Malta.  It  is  a  singular  cir. 
cumstance  connected  with  the  death  of  this  distinguished  officer,  which 
occurred  not  long  before  the  French  revolution,  that  he  disappeared  in 
an  extraordinary  manner,  and  is  buried  no  one  knows  where.  It  is 
supposed  that  he  was  killed  by  one  of  his  own  officers,  in  a  rencontre 
in  the  streets  of  Paris,  at  night,  and  that  the  influence  of  the  friends  of 
the  victor  was  sufficiently  great  to  suppress  inquiry.  The  cause  of  the 
quarrel  is  attributed  to  harsh  treatment  on  service. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  299 

"  Sir,"  exclaimed  the  officer  of  the  deck,  jumping  on  a 
quarter-deck  gun,  and  raising  his  hat. 

"  Is  Captain  Parker  on  board,  sir1?" 

"  He  is,  Sir  Gervaise ;  will  you  see  him,  sir  ?" 

A  nod  of  the  head  sufficed  to  bring  the  said  Captain  Parker 
on  deck,  and  to  the  gangway,  where  he  could  converse  with 
his  superior,  without  inconvenience  to  either. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Captain  Parker?" — a  certain  sign  Sir 
Gervaise  meant  to  rap  the  other  over  the  knuckles,  else 
would  it  have  been  Parker. — "  How  do  you  do,  Captain 
Parker  1  I  am  sorry  to  see  you  have  got  your  ship  too 
much  down  by  the  head,  sir.  She  '11  steer  off  the  wind,  like 
a  colt  when  he  first  feels  the  bridle ;  now  with  his  head  on 
one  side,  and  now  on  the  other.  You  know  I  like  a  com 
pact  line,  and  straight  wakes,  sir." 

"  I  am  well  aware  of  that,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  Parker, 
a  grey-headed,  meek  old  man,  who  had  fought  his  way  up 
from  the  forecastle  to  his  present  honourable  station,  and, 
who,  though  brave  as  a  lion  before  the  enemy,  had  a  particu 
lar  dread  of  all  his  commanders  ;  "  but  we  have  been  obliged 
to  use  more  water  aft  than  we  could  wish,  on  account  of  the 
tiers.  We  shall  coil  away  the  cables  anew,  and  come  at 
some  of  the  leaguers  forward,  and  bring  all  right  again,  in 
a  week,  I  hope,  sir." 

"A  week?  —  the  d — 1,  sir;  that  will  never  do,  when  I 
expect  to  see  de  Vervillin  to-morrow.  Fill  all  your  empty 
casks  aft  with  salt-water,  immediately  ;  and  if  that  wont  do, 
shift  some  of  your  shot  from  forward.  I  know  that  craft  of 
yours,  well ;  she  is  as  tender  as  a  fellow  with  corns,  and  the 
shoe  musn't  pinch  anywhere." 

"  Very  well,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  the  ship  shall  be  brought  in 
trim,  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,  that  is  what  I  expect  from  every  vessel,  at 
all  times ;  and  more  especially  when  we  are  ready  to  meet 
an  enemy.  And,  I  say,  Parker" — making  a  sign  to  his 
boat's  crew  to  stop  rowing  again — "  I  say,  Parker,  I  know 
you  love  brawn  ; — I  '11  send  you  some  that  Galleygo  tells 
me  he  has  picked  up,  along-shore  here,  as  soon  as  I  get 
aboard.  The  fellow  has  been  robbing  all  the  hen-roosts  in 
Devonshire,  by  his  own  account  of  the  matter." 

Sir  Gervaise  waved  his  hand,  Parker  smiled  and  bowed 


300  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

his  thanks,  and  the  two  parted  with  feelings  of  perfect  kind 
ness,  notwithstanding  the  little  skirmish  with  which  the 
interview  had  commenced. 

"  Mr.  Williamson,"  said  Captain  Parker  to  his  first  lieu 
tenant,  on  quitting  the  gangway,  "  you  hear  what  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  says ;  and  he  must  be  obeyed.  I  don't 
think  the  Carnatic  would  have  sheered  out  of  the  line,  even 
if  she  is  a  little  by  the  head  ;  but  have  the  empty  casks 
tilled,  and  bring  her  down  six  inches  more  by  the  stern." 

"  That 's  a  good  fellow,  that  old  Parker,"  said  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  to  his  purser,  whom  he  was  carrying  off  good-naturedly 
to  the  ship,  lest  he  might  lose  his  passage  ;  "  and  I  wonder 
how  he  let  his  ship  get  her  nose  under  water,  in  that  fashion. 
[  like  to  have  him  for  a  second  astern  ;  for  I  feel  sure  he  'd 
follow  if  I  stood  into  Cherbourg,  bows  on  !  Yes  ;  a  good 
fellow  is  Parker  ;  and,  Locker," — to  his  own  man,  who  was 
also  in  the  boat ; — "  mind  you  send  him  two  of  the  best 
pieces  of  thai  brawn — hey  ! — hey  ! — hey  ! — what  the  d — 1 
has  Lord  Morganic" — a  descendant  from  royalty,  by  the 
left-hand, — "  been  doing  now !  That  ship  is  kept  like  a 
tailor's  lay-figure,  just  to  stuff  jackets  and  gim-cracks  on 
her — Achilles,  there  !" 

A  quarter-master  ran  to  the  edge  of  the  poop,  and  then 
turning,  he  spoke  to  his  captain,  who  was  walking  the  deck, 
and  informed  him  that  the  commander-in-chief  hailed  the 
ship.  The  Earl  of  Morganic,  a  young  man  of  four-and- 
twenty,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  title  a  few  years  before  by 
the  death  of  an  elder  brother, — the  usual  process  by  which 
an  old  peer  is  brought  into  the  British  navy,  the  work  being 
too  discouraging  for  those  who  have  fortune  before  their 
eyes  from  the  start, — now  advanced  to  the  quarter  of  the 
ship,  bowed  with  respectful  ease,  and  spoke  with  a  self-pos 
session  that  not  one  of  the  old  commanders  of  the  fleet  would 
have  dared  to  use.  In  general,  this  nobleman's  intercourse 
with  his  superiors  in  naval  rank,  betrayed  the  consciousness 
of  his  own  superiority  in  civil  rank  ;  but,  Sir  Gervaise  being 
of  an  old  family,  and  quite  as  rich  as  he  was  himself,  the 
vice-admiral  commanded  more  of  his  homage  than  was  cus 
tomary.  His  ship  was  full  of  "  nobs,"  as  they  term  it  in 
the  British  navy,  or  the  sons  and  relatives  of  nobles ;  and 
it  was  by  no  means  on  uncommon  thing  for  hor  messes  to 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  301 

have  their  jokes  at  the  expense  of  even  flag-officers,  who 
were  believed  to  be  a  little  ignorant  of  the  peculiar  sensibili 
ties  that  are  rightly  enough  imagined  to  characterize  social 
station. 

"  Good-morning,  Sir  Gervaise,"  called  out  this  noblo 
captain ;  "  I  'm  glad  to  see  you  looking  so  well,  after  our 
long  cruise  in  the  Bay ;  I  intended  to  have  the  honour  to 
inquire  after  your  health  in  person,  this  morning,  but  they 
told  me  you  slept  out  of  your  ship.  We  shall  have  to  hold 
a  court  on  you,  sir,  if  you  fall  much  into  that  habit !" 

All  within  hearing  smiled,  even  to  the  rough  old  tars, 
who  were  astraddle  of  the  yards  ;  and  even  Sir  Gervaise's 
lip  curled  a  little,  though  he  was  not  exactly  in  a  joking 
humour. 

"  Come,  come,  Morganic,  do  you  let  my  habits  alone,  and 
look  out  for  your  own  fore-top-mast.  Why,  in  the  name 
of  seamanship,  is  that  spar  stayed  forward  in  such  a  fashion, 
looking  like  a  xebec's  foremast  ?" 

"  Do  you  dislike  it,  Sir  Gervaise  ? — Now  to  our  fancies 
aboard  here,  it  gives  the  Achilles  a  knowing  look,  and  we 
hope  to  set  a  fashion.  By  carrying  the  head-sails  well  for 
ward,  we  help  the  ship  round  in  a  sea,  you  know,  sir." 

"  Indeed,  I  know  no  such  thing,  my  lord.  What  you  gain 
after  being  taken  aback,  you  lose  in  coming  to  the  wind, 
If  I  had  a  pair  of  scales  suitable  to  such  a  purpose,  I  would 
have  all  that  hamper  you  have  stayed  away  yonder  over 
your  bows,  on  the  end  of  such  a  long  lever,  weighed,  in 
order  that  you  might  learn  what  a  beautiful  contrivance 
you've  invented,  among  you,  to  make  a  ship  pitch  in  a  head 

sea.  Why,  d e,  if  I  think  you  'd  lie-to,  at  all,  with  so 

much  stuff  aloft  to  knock  you  off  to  leeward.  Come  up, 
everything,  forward ;  come  up  everything,  my  lord,  and 
bring  the  mast  as  near  perpendicular  as  possible.  It 's  a 
hard  matter,  I  find,  to  make  one  of  your  new-fashioned 
captains  keep  things  in  their  places." 

"  Well,  now,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  think  the  Achilles  makes  as 
good  an  appearance  as  most  of  the  other  ships ;  and  as  to 
travelling  or  working,  I  do  not  know  that  she  is  either  dull 
or  clumsy !" 

"  She 's  pretty  well,  Morganic,  considering  how  many 
Bond-street  ideas  you  have  got  among  you ;  but  she  '11  never 
26 


302  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

do  in  a  head  sea,  with  that  fore-top-mast  threatening  your 
knight-heads.  So  get  the  mast  up-and-down,  again,  as  soon 
as  convenient,  and  come  and  dine  with  me,  without  further 
invitation,  the  first  fine  day  we  have  at  sea.  I  'm  going  to 
send  Parker  some  brawn ;  but,  I  '11  feed  you  on  some  of 
Galleygo's  turtle-soup,  made  out  of  pig's  heads." 

"  Thank  'ee,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  we  '11  endeavour  to  straighten 
the  stick,  since  you  will  have  it  so  ;  though,  I  confess  I  get 
tired  of  seeing  everything  to-day,  just  as  we  had  it  yester 
day." 

"  Yes — yes — that 's  the  way  with  most  of  them  St.  James 
cruisers,"  continued  the  vice-admiral,  as  he  rowed  away. 
"  They  want  a  fashionable  tailor  to  rig  a  man-of-war,  as 
they  are  rigged  themselves.  There  's  my  old  friend  and 
neighbour,  Lord  Scupperton — he 's  taken  a  fancy  to  yacht 
ing,  lately,  and  when  his  new  brig  was  put  into  the  water, 
Lady  Scupperton  made  him  send  for  an  upholsterer  from 
town  to  fit  out  the  cabin ;  and  when  the  blackguard  had  sur 
veyed  the  unfortunate  craft,  as  if  it  were  a  country  box, 
what  does  he  do  but  give  an  opinion,  that  *  this  here  edifice, 
my  lord,  in  my  judgment,  should  be  furnished  in  cottage 
style,' — the  vagabond  !" 

This  story,  which  was  not  particularly  original,  for  Sir 
Gervaise  himself  had  told  it  at  least  a  dozen  times  before, 
put  the  admiral  in  a  good  humour,  and  he  found  no  more 
fault  with  his  captains,  until  he  reached  the  Plantagenet. 

"  Daly,"  said  the  Earl  of  Morganic  to  his  first  lieutenant, 
an  experienced  old  Irishman  of  fifty,  who  still  sung  a  good 
song  and  told  a  good  story,  and  what  was  a  little  extraordi 
nary  for  either  of  these  accomplishments,  knew  how  to  take 
good  care  of  a  ship ; — "  Daly,  I  suppose  we  must  humour 
the  old  gentleman,  or  he  '11  be  quarantining  me,  and  that  I 
shouldn't  particularly  like  on  the  eve  of  a  general  action  ; 
so  we  '11  ease  off  forward,  and  set  up  the  strings  aft,  again. 
Hang  me  if  I  think  he  could  find  it  out  if  we  didn't,  so  long 
as  we  kept  dead  in  his  wake  !" 

"  That  wouldn't  be  a  very  safe  desait  for  Sir  Jarvy,  my 
lord,  for  he 's  a  wonderful  eye  for  a  rope  !  Were  it  Admiral 
Blue,  now,  I  'd  engage  to  cruise  in  his  company  for  a  week, 
with  my  mizzen-mast  stowed  in  the  hold,  and  there  should 
be  no  bother  about  the  novelty,  at  all ;  quite  likely  he  'd  be 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  303 

hailing  us,  and  ask  '  what  brig  's  that  T  But  none  of  these 
tricks  will  answer  with  t'other,  who  misses  the  whipping  off 
the  end  of  a  gasket,  as  soon  as  any  first  luff  of  us  all.  And 
so  I  '11  just  go  about  the  business  in  earnest ;  get  the  car 
penter  up  with  his  plumb-bob,  and  set  everything  as  straight 
up-and-down  as  the  back  of  a  grenadier." 

Lord  Morganic  laughed,  as  was  usual  with  him  when  his 
lieutenant  saw  fit  to  be  humorous  ;  and  then  his  caprice  in 
changing  the  staying  of  his  masts,  as  well  as  the  order 
which  countermanded  it,  was  forgotten. 

The  arrival  of  Sir  Gervaise  on  board  his  own  ship  was 
always  an  event  in  the  fleet,  even  though  his  absence  had 
lasted  no  longer  than  twenty-four  hours.  The  effect  was 
like  that  which  is  produced  on  a  team  of  high-mettled  cattle, 
when  they  feel  that  the  reins  are  in  the  hands  of  an  experi 
enced  and  spirited  coachman. 

"  Good-morning,  Greenly,  good-morning  to  you  all,  gen 
tlemen,"  said  the  vice-admiral,  bowing  to  the  quarter-deck 
in  gross,  in  return  for  the  '  present-arms,'  and  rattling  of 
drums,  and  lowering  of  hats  that  greeted  his  arrival ;  "  a 
fine  day,  and  it  is  likely  we  shall  have  a  fresh  breeze. 
Captain  Greenly,  your  sprit-sail-yard  wants  squaring  by 
the  lifts ;  and,  Bunting,  make  the  Thunderer's  signal  to  get 
her  fore-yard  in  its  place,  as  soon  as  possible.  She  's  had 
it  down  long  enough  to  make  a  new  one,  instead  of  merely 
fishing  it.  Are  your  boats  all  aboard,  Greenly  ?" 

"  All  but  your  own  barge,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  that  is  hooked 


on." 


"  In  with  it,  sir  ;  then  trip,  and  we  '11  be  off.  Monsieur 
de  Vervillin  has  got  some  mischief  in  his  head,  gentlemen, 
and  we  must  go  and  take  it  out  of  him." 

These  orders  were  promptly  obeyed  ;  but,  as  the  manner 
in  which  the  Plantagenet  passed  out  of  the  fleet,  and  led  the 
other  ships  to  sea,  has  been  already  related,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  repeat  it.  There  was  the  usual  bustle,  the  customary 
orderly  confusion,  the  winding  of  calls,  the  creaking  or 
blocks,  and  the  swinging  of  yards,  ere  the  vessels  were  in 
motion.  As  the  breeze  freshened,  sail  was  reduced,  as 
already  related,  until,  by  the  time  the  leading  ship  was  ten 
leagues  at  sea,  all  were  under  short  canvass,  and  the  ap 
pearance  of  a  windy,  if  not  a  dirty  night,  had  set  in.  Of 


304  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS 

course,  all  means  of  communication  between  the  Plantagenet 
and  the  vessels  still  at  anchor,  had  ceased,  except  by  send- 
ing  signals  do\vn  the  line;  but,  to  those  Sir  Gervaise  had 
no  recourse,  since  he  was  satisfied  Blue  water  understood  his 
plans,  and  he  then  entertained  no  manner  of  doubt  of  his 
friend's  willingness  to  aid  them. 

Little  heed  was  taken  of  anything  astern,  by  those  on 
board  the  Plantagenet.  Every  one  saw,  it  is  true,  that  ship 
followed  ship  in  due  succession,  as  long  as  the  movements 
of  those  in-shore  could  be  perceived  at  all ;  but  the  great 
interest  centred  on  the  horizon  to  the  southward  and  east 
ward.  In  that  quarter  of  the  channel  the  French  were  ex 
pected  to  appear,  for  the  cause  of  this  sudden  departure  was 
a  secret  from  no  one  in  the  fleet.  A  dozen  of  the  best  look 
outs  in  the  ship  were  kept  aloft  the  whole  afternoon,  and 
Captain  Greenly,  himself,  sat  in  the  forward-cross-trees, 
with  a  glass,  for  more  than  an  hour,  just  as  the  sun  was 
setting,  in  order  to  sweep  the  horizon.  Two  or  three  sail 
were  made,  it  is  true,  but  they  all  proved  to  be_  English 
coasters  ;  Guernsey  or  Jersey  men,  standing  for  ports  in  the 
west  of  England,  most  probably  laden  with  prohibited  arti 
cles  from  the  country  of  the  enemy.  Whatever  may  be  the 
dislike  of  an  Englishman  for  a  Frenchman,  he  has  no  dis 
like  to  the  labour  of  his  hands  ;  and  there  probably  has  not 
been  a  period  since  civilization  has  introduced  the  art  of 
smuggling  among  its  other  arts,  when  French  brandies,  and 
laces,  and  silks,  were  not  exchanged  against  English  to 
bacco  and  guineas,  and  that  in  a  contraband  way,  let  it  be 
in  peace  or  let  it  be  in  war.  One  of  the  characteristics  of 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  to  despise  all  petty  means  of  annoy 
ance  ;  usually  he  disdained  even  to  turn  aside  to  chase  a 
smuggler.  Fishermen  he  never  molested  at  all ;  and,  on 
the  whole,  he  carried  on  a  marine  warfare,  a  century  since, 
in  a  way  that  some  of  his  successors  might  have  imitated  to 
advantage  in  our  own  times.  Like  that  high-spirited  Irish 
man,  Caldwell,*  who  conducted  a  blockade  in  the  Chesa 
peake,  at  the  commencement  of  the  revolution,  with  so  much 
liberality,  that  his  enemies  actually  sent  him  an  invitation  to 

*  The  writer  believes  this  noble-minded  sailor  to  have  been  the  late 
Admiral  Sir  Benjamin  Caldwell.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that 
the  invitation  -tfould  not  be  accepted,  though  quite  seriously  given. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  305 

a  public  dinner,  Sir  Gervaise  knew  how  to  distinguish  be- 
tween  the  combatant  and  the  non-combatant,  and  heartily 
disdained  all  the  money-making  parts  of  his  profession, 
though  large  sums  had  fallen  into  his  hands,  in  this  way, 
as  pure  God-sends.  No  notice  was  taken,  therefore,  of 
anything  that  had  not  a  warlike  look  ;  the  noble  old  ship 
standing  steadily  on  towards  the  French  coast,  as  the  mas 
tiff  passes  the  cur,  on  his  way  to  encounter  another  animal, 
of  a  mould  and  courage  more  worthy  of  his  powers. 

"  Make  nothing  of  'em,  hey !  Greenly,"  said  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  as  the  captain  came  down  from  his  perch,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  gathering  obscurity  of  evening,  followed  by 
half-a-dozen  lieutenants  and  midshipmen,  who  had  been 
aloft  as  volunteers.  **  Well,  we  know  they  cannot  yet  be 
to  the  westward  of  us,  and  by  standing  on  shall  be  certain 
of  heading  them  off,  before  this  time  six  months.  How  beau 
tifully  all  the  ships  behave,  following  each  other  as  accu 
rately  as  if  Bluewater  himself  were  aboard  each  vessel  to 
conn  her  !" 

"  Yes,  sir,  they  do  keep  the  line  uncommonly  well,  con 
sidering  that  the  tides  run  in  streaks  in  the  channel.  I  do 
think  if  we  were  to  drop  a  hammock  overboard,  that  the 
Carnatic  would  pick  it  up,  although  she  must  be  quite  four 
leagues  astern  of  us." 

"  Let  old  Parker  alone  for  that !  I  '11  warrant  you,  he  is 
never  out  of  the  way.  Were  it  Lord  Morganic,  now,  in  the 
Achilles,  I  should  expect  him  to  be  away  off  here  on  our 
weather-quarter,  just  to  show  us  how  his  ship  can  eat  us  out 
of  the  wind  when  he  tries;  or  away  down  yonder,  under 
our  lee,  that  we  might  understand  how  she  falls  off,  when 
he  don't  try." 

"  My  lord  is  a  gallant  officer,  and  no  bad  seaman,  for  his 
years,  notwithstanding,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  Greenly, 
who  generally  took  the  part  of  the  absent,  whenever  his 
superior  felt  disposed  to  berate  them. 

"  I  deny  neither,  Greenly,  most  particularly  the  first.  I 
know  very  well,  were  I  to  signal  Morganic  to  run  into  Brest, 
he  'd  do  it ;  but  whether  he  would  go  in,  ring-tail-boom  or 
jib-boom  first,  I  couldn't  tell  till  I  saw  it.  Now  you  arc  a 
youngish  man  yourself,  Greenly — " 
26  * 


306  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  Every  day  of  eight-and-lhirty,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  a  few 
months  to  spare ;  and  I  care  not  if  the  ladies  know  it." 

"  Poh  !— They  like  us  old  fellows,  half  the  time,  as  weH 
as  they  do  the  boys.  But  you  are  of  an  age  not  to  feel 
time  in  your  bones,  and  can  see  the  folly  of  some  of  our 
old-fashioned  notions,  perhaps  ;  though  you  are  not  quite  as 
likely  to  understand  the  fooleries  that  have  come  in,  in  your 
own  day.  Nothing  is  more  absurd  than  to  be  experiment 
ing  on  the  settled  principles  of  ships.  They  are  machines, 
Greenly,  and  have  their  laws,  just  the  same  as  the  planets 
in  the  heavens.  The  idea  comes  from  a  fish, — head,  run, 
and  helm ;  and  all  we  have  to  do  is  to  study  the  fishes  in 
order  to  get  the  sort  of  craft  we  want.  If  there  is  occasion 
for  bulk,  take  the  whale,  and  you  get  a  round  bottom,  full 
fore-body,  and  a  clean  run.  When  you  want  speed,  models 
are  plenty — take  the  dolphin,  for  instance, — and  there  you 
find  an  entrance,  like  a  wedge,  a  lean  fore-body,  and  a  rua 
as  clean  as  this  ship's  decks.  But  some  of  our  young  cap 
tains  would  spoil  a  dolphin's  sailing,  if  they  could  breathe 
under  water,  so  as  to  get  at  the  poor  devils.  Look  at  their 
fancies  !  The  First  Lord  shall  give  one  of  his  cousins  a  fri 
gate,  now,  that  is  moulded  after  nature  itself,  as  one  might 
say;  with  a  bottom  that  would  put  a  trout  to  shame.  Well, 
one  of  the  first  things  the  lad  does,  when  he  gets  on  board 
her,  is  to  lengthen  his  gaff,  perhaps,  put  a  cloth  or  two  in 
his  mixzen,  and  call  it  a  spanker,  settle  away  the  peak  till 
it  sticks  out  over  his  tafTrail  like  a  sign-post,  and  then  away 
lie  goes  upon  a  wind,  with  his  helm  hard-up,  bragging  what 
a  weatherly  craft  he  has,  and  how  hard  it  is  to  make  her 
even  look  to  leeward." 

"  I  have  known  such  sailors,  I  must  confess,  Sir  Gervaise, 
but  time  cures  them  of  that  foil}''." 

"  That  is  to  be  hoped ;  for  what  would  a  man  think  of  a 
fish  to  which  nature  had  fitted  a  tail  athwart-ships,  and  which 
was  obliged  to  carry  a  fin,  like  a  lee-board,  under  its  lee- 
jaw,  to  prevent  falling  off*  dead  before  the  wind  !" 

Here  Sir  Gervaise  laughed  heartily  at  the  picture  of  the 
awkward  creature  to  which  his  own  imagination  had  given 
birth  ;  Greenly  joining  in  the  merriment,  partly  from  the 
oddity  of  the  conceit,  and  partly  from  the  docility  with  which 
a  commander-] n-chief  's  jokes  are  usually  received.  The 


THE     TWO    ADMIRALS.  307 

feeling  of  momentary  indignation  which  had  aroused  Sir 
Gervaise  to  such  an  expression  of  his  disgust  at  modern  in 
novations,  was  appeased  by  this  little  success  ;  and,  inviting 
his  captain  to  sup  with  him, — a  substitute  for  a  dinner, — he 
led  the  way  below  in  high  good-humour,  Galleygo  having 
just  announced  that  the  table  was  ready. 

The  convives  on  this  occasion  were  merely  the  admiral 
himself,  Greenly,  and  Atwood.  The  fare  was  substantial, 
rather  than  scientific  ;  but  the  service  was  rich ;  Sir  Ger 
vaise  uniformly  eating  off  of  plate.  In  addition  to  Galleygo, 
no  less  than  five  domestics  attended  to  the  wants  of  the 
party.  As  a  ship  of  the  Planlagenet's  size  \vas  reasonably 
steady  at  all  times,  a  gale  of  wind  excepted,  when  the  lamps 
and  candles  were  lighted,  and  the  group  was  arranged,  aided 
by  the  admixture  of  rich  furniture  with  frowning  artillery 
and  the  other  appliances  of  war,  the  great  cabin  of  the  Plan- 
tagenet  was  not  without  a  certain  air  of  rude  magnificence. 
Sir  Gervaise  kept  no  less  than  three  servants  in  livery,  as 
a  part  of  his  personal  establishment,  tolerating  Galleygo, 
and  one  or  two  more  of  the  same  stamp,  as  a  homage  due 
to  Neptune. 

The  situation  not  being  novel  to  either  of  the  party,  and 
the  day's  work  having  been  severe,  the  first  twenty  minutes 
were  pretty  studiously  devoted  to  the  duty  of  "  restoration," 
as  it  is  termed  by  the  great  masters  of  the  science  of  the 
table.  By  the  end  of  that  time,  however,  the  glass  began  to 
circulate,  though  moderately,  and  with  it  tongues  to  loosen. 

"  Your  health,  Captain  Greenly — Atwood,  I  remember 
you,"  said  the  vice-admiral,  nodding  his  head  familiarly  to 
his  two  guests,  on  the  eve  of  tossing  off  a  glass  of  sherry. 
"  These  Spanish  wines  go  directly  to  the  heart,  and  I  only 
wonder  why  a  people  who  can  make  them,  don't  make  better 
sailors." 

"  In  the  days  of  Columbus,  the  Spaniards  had  something 
to  boast  of  in  that  way,  too.  Sir  Gervaise,"  Atwood  re 
marked. 

"  Ay,  but  that  was  a  long  time  ago,  and  they  have  got 
bravely  over  it.  I  account  for  the  deficiencies  of  both  the 
French  and  Spanish  marines  something  in  this  way,  Greenly 
Columbus,  and  the  discovery  of  America,  brought  ships  and 
sailors  into  fashion.  But  a  ship  without  an  officer  fit  to 


308  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

command  her,  is  like  a  body  without  a  soul.  Fashion,  how 
ever,  brought  your  young  nobles  into  their  services,  and 
men  were  given  vessels  because  their  fathers  were  dukes 
and  counts,  and  not  because  they  knew  anything  about 
them." 

"  Is  our  own  service  entirely  free  from  this  sort  of  favour 
itism  '/"  quietly  demanded  the  captain. 

"  Far  from  it,  Greenly ;  else  would  not  Morganic  been 
made  a  captain  at  twenty,  and  old  Parker,  for  instance,  one 
only  at  fifty.  But,  somehow,  our  classes  slide  into  each 
other,  in  a  way  that  neutralizes,  in  a  great  degree,  the  effect 
of  birth.  Is  it  not  so,  At  wood  ?" 

"  Some  of  our  classes,  Sir  Gervaise,  manage  to  slide  into 
all  the  best  places,  if  the  truth  must  be  said." 

"  Well,  that  is  pretty  bold  for  a  Scotchman  !"  rejoined  the 
vice-admiral,  good-humouredly.  "  Ever  since  the  accession 
of  the  house  of  Stuart,  we  :ve  built  a  bridge  across  the  Tweed 
that  lets  people  pass  in  only  one  direction.  I  make  no 
doubt  this  Pretender's  son  will  bring  down  half  Scotland  at 
his  heels,  to  fill  all  the  berths  they  may  fancy  suitable  to 
their  merits.  It's  an  easy  way  of  paying  bounty — pro 
mises." 

"  This  affair  in  the  north,  they  tell  me,  seems  a  little 
serious,"  said  Greenly.  "  I  believe  this  is  Mr.  Atwood's 
opinion  ?" 

"  You  '11  find  it  serious  enough,  if  Sir  Gervaise's  notion 
about  the  bounty  be  true,"  answered  the  immovable  secre 
tary.  "  Scotia  is  a  small  country,  but  it's  well  filled  with 
*  braw  sperits,'  if  there 's  an  opening  for  them  to  prove  it." 

"  Well,  well,  this  war  between  England  and  Scotland  is 
out  of  place,  while  we  have  the  French  and  Spaniards  on 
our  hands.  Most  extraordinary  scenes  have  we  had  ashore 
yonder,  Greenly,  with  an  old  Devonshire  baronet,  who 
slipped  and  is  off  for  the  other  world,  while  we  were  in  his 
house." 

"  Magrath  has  told  me  something  of  it,  sir  ;  and  he  tells 
me  the  fll-us  null-us — hang  me  if  I  can  make  out  his  gib 
berish,  five  minutes  after  it  was  told  to  me." 

"  Filius  nullius,  you  mean  ;  nobody's  baby — the  son  of 
nobody — have  you  forgotten  your  Latin,  man  ?" 

"  Faith,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  never  had  any  to  forget.     My 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  309 

fatnoi  was  a  captain  of  a  man-of-war  before  me,  and  he 
kept  me  afloat  from  the  time  I  was  five,  down  to  the  day  of 
his  death  ;  Latin  was  no  part  of  my  spoon-rneat." 

"  Ay — ay — my  good  fellow,  I  knew  your  father,  and  was 
in  the  third  ship  from  him,  in  the  action  in  which  he  fell," 
returned  the  vice-admiral,  kindly.  "  Bluewater  was  "just 
ahead  of  him,  and  we  all  loved  him,  as  we  did  an  elder 
brother.  You  were  not  promoted,  then." 

"  No,  sir,  I  was  only  a  midshipman,  and  didn't  happen 
to  be  in  his  own  ship  that  day,"  answered  Greenly,  sensibly 
touched  with  this  tribute  to  his  parent's  merit ;  "  but  I  was 
old  enough  to  remember  how  nobly  you  all  behaved  on  the 
occasion.  Well," — slily  brushing  his  eye  with  his  hand, — 
"  Latin  may  do  a  schoolmaster  good,  but  it  is  of  little  use 
on  board  ship.  I  never  had  but  one  scholar  among  all  my 
cronies  and  intimates." 

"  And  who  was  he,  Greenly  ?  You  shouldn't  despise 
knowledge,  because  you  don't  understand  it.  I  dare  say 
your  intimate  was  none  the  worse  for  a  little  Latin — enough 
to  go  through  nullus,  nulla,  nullum,  for  instance.  Who  wa« 
this  intimate,  Greenly  ?" 

"  John  Bluewater — handsome  Jack,  as  he  was  called ;  the 
younger  brother  of  the  admiral.  They  sent  him  to  sea,  to 
keep  him  out  of  harm's  way  in  some  love  affair ;  and  you 
may  remember  that  while  he  was  with  the  admiral,  or  Cap 
tain  Bluewater,  as  he  was  then,  I  was  one  of  the  lieutenants. 
Although  poor  Jack  was  a  soldier  and  in  the  guards,  and  he 
was  four  or  five  years  my  senior,  he  took  a  fancy  to  me, 
and  we  became  intimate.  HS  understood  Latin,  better  than 
he  did  his  own  interests." 

"  In  what  did  he  fail  ? — Bluewater  was  never  very  com 
municative  to  me  about  that  brother." 

"  There  was  a  private  marriage,  and  cross  guardians,  and 
the  usual  difficulties.  In  the  midst  of  it  all,  poor  John  fell 
in  battle,  as  you  know,  and  his  widow  followed  him  to  the 
grave,  within  a  month  or  two.  'T  was  a  sad  story  all 
round,  and  I  try  to  think  of  it  as  little  as  possible." 

"  A  private  marriage !"  repeated  Sir  Gervaise,  slowly. 
"  Are  you  quite  sure  of  that  1  I  don't  think  Bluewater  is 
aware  of  that  circumstance ;  at  least,  I  never  heard  him 
ullude  to  it.  Could  there  have  been  any  issue  ?" 


310  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  No  one  can  know  it  better  than  myself,  as  I  helped  to 
get  the  lady  off,  and  was  present  at  the  ceremony.  That 
much  I  know.  Of  issue,  I  should  think  there  was  none  j 
though  the  colonel  lived  a  year  after  the  marriage.  How 
far  the  admiral  is  familiar  with  all  these  circumstances  I 
cannot  say,  as  one  would  not  like  to  introduce  the  particu 
lars  of  a  private  marriage  of  a  deceased  brother,  to  his  com 
manding  officer." 

"  I  am  glad  there  was  no  issue,  Greenly — particular  cir 
cumstances  make  me  glad  of  that.  But  we  will  change  the 
discourse,  as  these  family  disasters  make  one  melancholy ; 
and  a  melancholy  dinner  is  like  ingratitude  to  Him  who 
bestows  it." 

The  conversation  now  grew  general,  and  in  due  season, 
in  common  with  the  feast,  it  ended.  After  sitting  the  usual 
time,  the  guests  retired.  Sir  Gervaise  then  went  on  deck, 
and  paced  the  poop  for  an  hour,  looking  anxiously  ahead,  in 
quest  of  the  French  signals ;  and,  failing  of  discovering  them, 
he  was  fain  to  seek  his  berth  out  of  sheer  fatigue.  Before  he 
did  this,  however,  the  necessary  orders  were  given  ;  and  that 
to  call  him,  should  anything  out  of  the  common  track  occur, 
was  repeated  no  less  than  four  times. 


CHAPTEE  XXL 

"  Roll  on,  thou  deep  and  dark-blue  ocean — roll ! 
Ten  thousand  fleets  sweep  over  thee  in  vain ; 
Man  marks  the  earth  with  ruin — his  control 
Stops  with  the  shore ; — upon  the  wat'ry  plain 
The  wrecks  are  all  thy  deed." 

Childe  Harold. 

IT  was  broad  day-light,  when  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  next 
appeared  on  deck.  As  the  scene  then  offered  to  his  view,  as 
well  as  the  impression  it  made  on  his  mind,  will  sufficiently 
explain  to  the  reader  the  state  of  affairs,  some  six  hours  later 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  31J 

than  the  time  last  iicluded  in  our  account,  we  refer  him  to 
those  for  his  own  impressions.  The  wind  now  blew  a  real 
gale,  though  the  season  of  the  year  rendered  it  less  unplea 
sant  to  the  feelings  than  is  usual  with  wintry  tempests.  The 
air  was  even  bland,  and  still  charged  with  the  moisture  of 
the  ocean  ;  though  it  came  sweeping  athwart  sheets  of  foam, 
with  a  fury,  at  moments,  which  threatened  to  carry  the 
entire  summits  of  waves  miles  from  their  beds,  in  spray. 
Even  the  aquatic  birds  seemed  to  be  terrified,  in  the  instants 
of  the  greatest  power  of  the  winds,  actually  wheeling  sud 
denly  on  their  wings,  and  plunging  into  the  element  beneath 
to  seek  protection  from  the  maddened  efforts  of  that  to  which 
they  more  properly  belonged. 

Still,  Sir  Gervaise  saw  that  his  ships  bore  up  nobly 
against  the  fierce  strife.  Each  vessel  showed  the  same  can 
vass  ;  viz. — a  reefed  fore-sail ;  a  small  triangular  piece  of 
strong,  heavy  cloth,  fitted  between  the  end  of  the  bowsprit 
and  the  head  of  the  fore-top-mast ;  a  similar  sail  over  the 
quarter-deck,  between  the  mizzen  and  main  masts,  and  a 
close-reefed  main-top-sail.  Several  times  that  morning, 
Captain  Greenly  had  thought  he  should  be  compelled  to  sub 
stitute  a  lower  surface  to  the  wind  than  that  of  the  sail  last 
mentioned.  As  it  was  an  important  auxiliary,  however,  in 
steadying  the  ship,  and  in  keeping  her  under  the  command 
of  her  helm,  on  each  occasion  the  order  had  been  delayed, 
until  he  now  began  to  question  whether  the  canvass  could 
be  reduced,  without  too  great  a  risk  to  the  men  whom  it 
would  be  necessary  to  send  aloft.  He  had  decided  to  let  it 
stand  or  blow  away,  as  fortune  might  decide.  Similar  rea 
soning  left  nearly  all  the  other  vessels  under  precisely  the 
same  canvass. 

The  ships  of  the  vice-admiral's  division  had  closed  in  the 
night,  agreeably  to  an  order  given  before  quitting  the  an 
chorage,  which  had  directed  them  to  come  within  the  usual 
sailing  distance,  in  the  event  of  the  weather's  menacing  a 
separation.  This  command  had  been  obeyed  bv  the  ships 
astern  carrying  sail  hard,  long  after  the  leading  vessels  had 
been  eased  by  reducing  their  canvass.  The  order  of  sailing 
was  the  Plantagenet  in  the  van,  and  the  Carnatic,  Achilles, 
Thunderer,  Blenheim,  and  Warspite's  following,  in  the  order 
named ;  some  changes  having  been  made  in  the  night,  in 


312 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 


order  to  bring  the  ships  of  the  division  into  their  fighting- 
stations,  in  a  line  ahead,  the  vice-admiral  leading.  The 
superiority  of  the  Plantagenet  was  a  little  apparent,  notwith 
standing;  the  Carnatic  alone,  and  that  only  by  means  .of  tho, 
most  careful  watching,  being  able  to  keep  literally  in  the 
commander-in-chief  's  wake  ;  all  the  other  vessels  gradually 
but  almost  imperceptibly  setting  to  leeward  of  it.  These 
several  circumstances  struck  Sir  Gervaise,  the  moment  his 
foot  touched  the  poop,  where  he  found  Greenly  keeping  an 
anxious  look-out  on  the  state  of  the  weather  and  the  condi 
tion  of  his  own  ship ;  leaning  at  the  same  time,  against  the 
spanker-boom  to  steady  himself  in  the  gusts  of  the  gale. 
The  vice-admiral  braced  his  own  well-knit  and  compact 
frame,  by  spreading  his  legs,  and  then  he  turned  his  hand 
some  but  weather-beaten  face  towards  the  line,  scanning 
each  ship  in  succession,  as  she  lay  over  to  the  wind,  and 
came  wallowing  on,  shoving  aside  vast  mounds  of  water 
with  her  bows,  her  masts  describing  short  arcs  in  the  air, 
and  her  hull  rolling  to  windward,  and  then  lurching,  as  if 
boring  her  way  through  the  ocean.  Galleygo,  who  never 
regarded  himself  as  a  steward  in  a  gale  of  wind,  was  the 
only  other  person  on  the  poop,  whither  he  went  at  pleasure 
by  a  sort  of  imprescriptible  right. 

"  Well  done,  old  Planter  !"  cried  Sir  Gervaise,  heartily, 
as  soon  as  his  eye  had  taken  in  the  leading  peculiarities  of 
the  view.  "  You  see,  Greenly,  she  has  everybody  but  old 
Parker  to  leeward,  and  she  would  have  him  there,  too,  but 
he  would  carry  every  stick  he  has,  out  of  the  Carnatic, 
rather  than  not  keep  his  berth.  Look  at  Master  Morganic  ; 
he  has  his  main  course  close-reefed  on  the  Achilles,  to  luff 
into  his  station,  and  I  '11  warrant  you  will  get  a  good  six 
months'  wear  out  of  that  ship  in  this  one  gale ;  loosening 
her  knees,  and  jerking  her  spars  like  so  many  whip-handles  ; 
and  all  for  love  of  the  new  fashion  of  rigging  an  English 
two-decker  like  an  Algerine  xebec  !  Well,  let  him  tug  his 
way  up  to  windward,  Bond-street  fashion,  if  he  likes  the  fun. 
What  has  become  of  the  Chloe,  Greenly?" 

"  Here  she  is,  sir,  quite  a  league  on  our  lee-bow,  looking 
out,  according  to  orders." 

"  Ay,  that  is  her  work,  and  she  '11  do  it  effectually.—But 
I  don't  see  the  Driver  !" 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"She's  dead  ahead,  sir,"  answered  Greenly,  smiling; 
**  her  orders  being  rather  more  difficult  of  execution.  Her 
station  would  be  off  yonder  to  windward,  half  a  league  ahead 
of  us  ;  but  it 's  no  easy  matter  to  get  into  that  position,  Sir 
Gervaise,  when  the  Plantagenet  is  really  in  earnest." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed,  and  rubbed  his  hands,  and  then  he 
turned  to  look  for  the  Active,  the  only  other  vessel  of  his 
division.  This  little  cutter  was  dancing  over  the  seas,  half 
the  time  under  water,  notwithstanding,  under  the  head  of 
her  mainsail,  broad  off,  on  the  admiral's  weather-beam; 
finding  no  difficulty  in  maintaining  her  station  there,  in  the 
absence  of  all  top-hamper,  and  favoured  by  the  lowness  of 
her  hull.  After  this  he  glanced  upward  at  the  sails  and 
spars  of  the  Plantagenet,  which  he  studied  closely. 

"  No  signs  of  de  Vervillin,  hey,  Greenly  !"  the  admiral 
asked,  when  his  survey  of  the  whole  fleet  had  ended.  "  I 
was  in  hopes  we  might  see  something  of  him,  when  the  light 
returned  this  morning." 

"  Perhaps  it  is  quite  as  well  as  it  is,  Sir  Gervaise,"  re 
turned  the  captain.  "  We  could  do  little  besides  look  at 
each  other,  in  this  gale,  and  then  Admiral  Bluewater  ought 
to  join  before  I  should  like  even  to  do  that" 

"  Think  you  so,  Master  Greenly ! — There  you  are  mis 
taken,  then ;  for  I  'd  lie  by  him,  were  I  alone  in  this  ship, 
that  I  might  know  where  he  was  to  be  found  as  soon  as  the 
weather  would  permit  us  to  having  something  to  say  to  him." 

These  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  the  look-out  in 
the  forward  cross-trees,  shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice, 
"  sail-ho  !"  At  the  next  instant  the  Chloe  fired  a  gun,  the 
report  of  which  was  just  heard  amid  the  roaring  of  the  gale, 
though  the  smoke  was  distinctly  seen  floating  above  the 
mists  of  the  ocean  ;  and  she  set  a  signal  at  her  naked  mizzen- 
top-gallant-mast-head. 

"  Run  below,  young  gentleman,"  said  the  vice-admiral, 
advancing  to  the  break  of  the  poop  and  speaking  to  a  mid 
shipman  on  the  quarter-deck ;  "  and  desire  Mr.  Bunting  to 
make  his  appearance.  The  Chloe  signals  us — tell  him  not 
to  look  for  his  knee-buckles." 

A  century  since,  the  last  injunction,  though  still  so  much 
in  use  on  ship-board,  was  far  more  literal  than  it  is  to-day, 
nearly  all  classes  of  men  possessing  the  articles  in  question, 
27 


314  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

though  not  invariably  wearing  them  when  at  sea.  The 
midshipman  dove  below,  however,  as  soon  as  the  worda 
were  out  of  his  superior's  mouth ;  and,  in  a  very  few  mi 
nutes,  Bunting  appeared,  having  actually  stopped  on  the 
main-deck  ladder  to  assume  his  coat,  lest  he  might  too  un 
ceremoniously  invade  the  sacred  precincts  of  the  quarter 
deck,  in  his  shirt-sleeves. 

"  There  it  is,  Bunting,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  handing  the 
lieutenant  the  glass  ;  "  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven — '  a 
large  sail  ahead,'  if  I  remember  right." 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise,  '  sails  ahead  ;'  the  number  of  them 
to  follow.  Hoist  the  answering  flag,  quarter-master." 

"  So  much  the  better !  So  much  the  better,  Bunting ! 
The  number  to  follow  ? — Well,  we  'ZZ  follow  the  number, 
let  it  be  greater  or  smaller.  Come,  sirrah,  bear  a  hand  up 
with  your  answering  flag." 

The  usual  signal  that  the  message  was  understood  was 
now  run  up  between  the  masts,  and  instantly  hauled  down 
again,  the  flags  seen  in  the  Chloe  descending  at  the  same 
moment. 

"  Now  for  the  number  of  the  sails,  ahead,"  said  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  as  he,  Greenly,  and  Bunting,  each  levelled  a  glass  at 
the  frigate,  on  board  which  the  next  signal  was  momentarily 
expected.  "  Eleven,  by  George  !" 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise,"  exclaimed  Greenly,  "  I  know  better 
than  that.  Red  above,  and  blue  beneath,  with  the  distin 
guishing  pennant  beneath,  make  fourteen,  in  our  books, 
now !" 

"  Well,  sir,  if  they  are  forty,  we  '11  go  nearer  and  see  of 
what  sort  of  stuff  they  are  made.  Show  your  answering 
flag,  Bunting,  that  we  may  know  what  else  the  Chloe  has  to 
tall  us." 

This  was  done,  the  frigate  hauling  down  her  signals  in 
haste,  and  showing  a  new  set  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  What  now,  Bunting  ? — what  now,  Greenly?"  demanded 
Sir  Gervaise,  a  sea  having  struck  the  side  of  the  ship  and 
thrown  so  much  spray  into  his  face  as  to  reduce  him  to  tho 
necessity  of  using  his  pocket-handkerchief,  at  the  very  mo 
ment  he  was  anxious  to  be  looking  through  his  glass. 
4  \V  hat  do  you  make  of  that,  gentlemen  ?" 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  315 

'•  I  make  out  the  number  to  be  382,"  answered  Greenly 
"  but  what  it  means,  I  know  not." 

" '  Strange  sails,  enemies?  "  read  Bunting  from  the  book, 
"  Show  the  answer,  quarter-master." 

"  We  hardly  wanted  a  signal  for  that,  Greenly,  since 
there  can  be  no  friendly  force,  hereaway ;  and  fourteen  sail, 
on  this  coast,  always  means  mischief.  What  says  the  Chloe 
next?" 

"  *  Strange  sails  on  the  larboard  tack,  heading  as  fol 
lows.'  " 

"  By  George,  crossing  our  course ! — We  shall  soon  see 
them  from  deck.  Do  the  ships  astern  notice  the  signals  ?" 

"  Every  one  of  them,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  cap 
tain  ;  "  the  Thunderer  has  just  lowered  her  answering  flag, 
and  the  Active  is  repeating.  I  have  never  seen  quarter 
masters  so  nimble !" 

"  So  much  the  better — so  much  the  better — down  he 
comes  ;  stand  by  for  another." 

After  the  necessary  pause,  the  signal  to  denote  the  point 
of  the  compass  was  shown  from  the  Chloe. 

"  Heading  how,  Bunting  ?"  the  vice-admiral  eagerly  in 
quired.  "  Heading  how,  sir  ?" 

"  North-west-and-by-north,"  or  as  Bunting  pronounced  it, 
"  nor-west-and-by-noathe,  I  believe  sir, — no,  I  am  mistaken, 
Sir  Gervaise  ;  it  is  nor-nor-west." 

"  Jammed  up  like  ourselves,  hard  on  a  wind  !  This  gale 
comes  directly  in  from  the  broad  Atlantic,  and  one  party  is 
crossing  over  to  the  north  and  the  other  to  the  south  shore. 
We  must  meet,  unless  one  of  us  run  away — hey  !  Greenly  ?" 

"  True  enough,  Sir  Gervaise ;  though  fourteen  sail  is 
rather  an  awkward  odds  for  seven." 

"You  forget  the  Driver  and  Active,  sir;  we've  nine; 
nine  hearty,  substantial  British  cruisers." 

"  To  wit :  six  ships  of  the  line,  one  frigate,  a  sloop,  and  a 
cutter"  laying  heavy  emphasis  on  the  two  last  classes  of 
vessels. 

"  What  does  the  Chloe  say  now,  Bunting  ?  That  we  're 
enough  for  the  French,  although  they  are  two  to  one  ?" 

"  Not  exactly  that,  I  believe,  Sir  Gervaise.  *  Five  more 
sail,  ahead.'  They  increase  fast,  sir." 

"Ay,  at  that  rate,  they  may  indeed  grow  too  strong  for 


316  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

us,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise,  with  more  coolness  of  manner  J 
"  nineteen  to  nine  are  rather  heavy  odds.  I  wish  we  had 
Bluewater  here  ?" 

"  That  is  what  I  was  about  to  suggest,  Sir  Gervaise,"  ob 
served  the  captain.  "  If  we  had  the  other  division,  as  some 
of  the  Frenchmen  are  probably  frigates  and  corvettes,  we 
might  do  better.  Admiral  Bluewater  cannot  be  far  from  us  ; 
-  somewhere  down  here,  towards  north-east — or  nor-nor-east. 
By  waring  round,  I  think  we  should  make  his  division  in 
the  course  of  a  couple  of  hours." 

"  What,  and  leave  to  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  the  advantage 
of  swearing  he  frightened  us  away  !  No — no — Greenly  ; 
we  will  first  pass  him  fairly  and  manfully,  and  that,  too, 
within  reach  of  shot ;  and  then  it  will  be  time  enough  to  go 
round  and  look  afterour  friends." 

"  Will  not  that  be  putting  the  French  exactly  between  our 
two  divisions,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  give  him  the  advantage  of 
dividing  our  force.  If  he  stand  far,  on  a  nor-nor-west 
course,  I  think  he  will  infallibly  get  between  us  and  Admiral 
Bluewater." 

"  And  what  will  he  gain  by  that,  Greenly  ? — What,  ac 
cording  to  your  notions  of  matters  and  things,  will  be  the 
great  advantage  of  having  an  English  fleet  on  each  side  of 
him  !" 

"  Not  much,  certainly,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Greenly, 
laughing ;  "  if  these  fleets  were  at  all  equal  to  his  own.  But 
as  they  will  be  much  inferior  to  him,  the  Comte  may  manage 
to  close  with  one  division,  while  the  other  is  so  far  off  as  to 
be  unable  to  assist ;  and  one  hour  of  a  hot  fire  may  dispose 
of  the  victory." 

"  All  this  is  apparent  enough,  Greenly,  and  yet  I  could 
hardly  brook  letting  the  enemy  go  scatheless.  So  long  as 
it  blows  as  it  does  now,  there  will  not  be  much  fighting; 
and  there  can  be  no  harm  in  taking  a  near  look  at  Mr.  de 
Vervillin.  In  half  an  hour,  or  an  hour  at  most,  we  must 
get  a  sight  of  him  from  off  deck,  even  with  this  slow  head 
way  of  the  two  fleets.  Let  them  heave  the  log,  and  ascer 
tain  how  fast  we  go,  sir." 

'•  Should  we  engage  the  French  in  such  weather,  Sir  Ger 
vaise,"  answered  Greenly,  after  giving  the  order  just  men 
tioned  ;  "  it  would  be  giving  them  the  very  advantage  they 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  317 

like.  They  usually  fire  at  the  spars,  and  one  shot  would 
do  more  mischief,  with  such  a  strain  on  the  masts,  than 
half-a-dozen  in  a  moderate  blow." 

"  That  will  do,  Greenly — that  will  do,"  said  the  vice-ad 
miral,  impatiently ;  "  if  I  didn't  so  well  know  you,  and 
hadn't  seen  you  so  often  engaged,  I  should  think  you  were 
afraid  of  these  nineteen  sail.  You  have  lectured  long  enough 
to  render  me  prudent,  and  we  '11  say  no  more." 

Here  Sir  Gervaise  turned  on  his  heel,  and  began  to  pace 
the  poop,  for  he  was  slightly  vexed,  though  not  angered. 
Such  little  dialogues  often  occurred  between  him  and  his 
captain,  the  latter  knowing  that  his  commander's  greatest 
professional  failing  was  excess  of  daring,  while  he  felt  that 
his  own  reputation  was  too  well  established  to  be  afraid  to 
inculcate  prudence.  Next  to  the  honour  of  the  flag,  and 
his  own  perhaps,  Greenly  felt  the  greatest  interest  in  that 
of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  under  whom  he  had  served  as  mid 
shipman,  lieutenant,  and  captain ;  and  this  his  superior 
knew,  a  circumstance  that  would  have  excused  far  greater 
liberties.  After  moving  swiftly  to  and  fro  several  times,  the 
vice-admiral  began  to  cool,  and  then  he  forgot  this  passing 
ebullition  of  quick  feelings.  Greenly,  on  the  other  hand, 
satisfied  that  the  just  mind  of  the  commander-in-chief  would 
not  fail  to  appreciate  facts  that  had  been  so  plainly  presented 
to  it,  was  content  to  change  the  subject.  They  conversed 
together,  in  a  most  friendly  manner,  Sir  Gervaise  being  even 
unusually  frank  and  communicative,  in  order  to  prove  he 
was  not  displeased,  the  matter  in  discussion  being  the  state 
of  the  ship  and  the  situation  of  the  crew. 

"  You  are  always  ready  for  battle,  Greenly,"  the  vice- 
admiral  said,  smilingly,  in  conclusion ;  "  when  there  is  a 
necessity  ;  and  always  just  as  ready  to  point  out  the  inex 
pediency  of  engaging,  where  you  fancy  nothing  is  to  be 
gained  by  it.  You  would  not  have  me  run  away  from  a 
shadow,  however ;  or  a  signal ;  and  that  is  much  the  same 
thing:  so  we  will  stand  on,  until  we  make  the  Frenchmen 
fairly  from  off-deck,  when  it  will  be  time  enough  to  deter 
mine  what  shall  come  next." 

"  Sail-ho  !"  shouted  one  of  the  look-outs  from  aloft,  a  cry 
that   immediately  drew  all  eyes  towards  the  mizzen-top- 
mast-cross-trees,  whence  the  sound  proceeded. 
27  * 


318  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

The  wind  blew  too  fresh  to  render  conversation,  even  by 
means  of  a  trumpet,  easy,  and  the  man  was  ordered  down 
to  give  an  account  of  what  he  had  seen.  Of  course  he  first 
touched  the  poop-deck,  where  he  was  met  by  the  admiral 
and  captain,  the  officer  of  the  watch,  to  whom  he  properly 
belonged,  giving  him  up  to  the  examination  of  his  two  supe 
riors,  without  a  grimace. 

"  Where-away  is  the  sail  you  've  seen,  sir  ?"  demanded 
Sir  Gervaise  a  little  sharply,  for  he  suspected  it  was  no 
more  than  one  of  the  ships  ahead,  already  signalled.  "  Down 
yonder  to  the  southward  and  eastward — hey  !  sirrah  ?" 

"  No,  Sir  Jarvy,"  answered  the  top-man,  hitching  his 
trowsers  with  one  hand,  and  smoothing  the  hair  on  his  fore 
head  with  the  other ;  "  but  out  here,  to  the  nor'ard  and 
west'ard,  on  our  weather- quarter.  It 's  none  o'  them  French 
chaps  as  is  with  the  County  of  Fairvillian," — for  so  all  the 
common  men  of  the  fleet  believed  their  gallant  enemy  to  be 
rightly  named, — "  but  is  a  square-rigged  craft  by  herself, 
jammed  up  on  a  wind,  pretty  much  like  all  on  us." 

"  That  alters  the  matter,  Greenly !  How  do  you  know 
she  is  square-rigged,  my  man  ?" 

"  Why,  Sir  Jarvy,  your  honour,  she 's  under  her  fore 
and  mam-taw-sails,  close-reefed,  with  a  bit  of  the  mainsail 
set,  as  well  as  I  can  make  it  out,  sir." 

"  The  devil  she  is  !  It  must  be  some  fellow  in  a  great 
hurry,  to  carry  that  canvass  in  this  blow  !  Can  it  be  possi 
ble,  Greenly,  that  the  leading  vessel  of  Bluewater  is  heaving 
in  sight  ?" 

"  I  rather  think  not,  Sir  Gervaise ;  it  would  be  too  far  to 
windward  for  any  of  his  two-deckers.  It  may  turn  out  to 
be  a  look-out  ship  of  the  French,  got  round  on  the  other 
tack  to  keep  her  station,  and  carrying  sail  hard,  because 
she  dislikes  our  appearance." 

"  In  that  case  she  must  claw  well  to  windward  to  escape 
us  !  What 's  your  name,  my  lad — Tom  Davis,  if  I  'm  not 
mistaken  ?" 

"  No,  Sir  Jarvy,  it 's  Jack  Brown  ;  which  is  much  the 
same,  your  honour.  We 's  no  ways  partic'lar  about  names." 

"  Well,  Jack,  does  it  blow  hard  aloft  1  So  as  to  give  you 
any  trouble  in  holding  on  ?" 

"  Nothing  to  speak  on,  Sir  Jarvy.  A'ter  cruising  a  winter 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  319 

and  spring  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  I  looks  on  this  as  no  more 
nor  a  puff.  Half  a  hand  will  keep  a  fellow  in  his  berth, 
aloft." 

"  Galleygo — take  Jack  Brown  below  to  my  cabin,  and 
give  him  a  fresh  nip  in  his  jigger — he  '11  hold  on  all  the 
better  for  it." 

This  was  Sir  Gervaise's  mode  of  atoning  for  the  error 
in  doing  the  man  injustice,  by  supposing  he  was  mistaken 
about  the  new  sail,  and  Jack  Brown  went  aloft  devoted  to 
the  commander-in-chief.  It  costs  the  great  and  powerful  so 
little  to  become  popular,  that  one  is  sometimes  surprised  to 
find  that  any  are  otherwise ;  but,  when  we  remember  that 
it  is  also  their  duty  to  be  just,  astonishment  ceases ;  justice 
being  precisely  the  quality  to  which  a  large  portion  of  the 
human  race  are  most  averse. 

Half  an  hour  passed,  and  no  further  reports  were  received 
from  aloft.  In  a  few  minutes,  however,  the  Warspite  sig 
nalled  the  admiral,  to  report  the  stranger  on  her  weather- 
quarter,  and,  not  long  after,  the  Active  did  the  same.  Still 
neither  told  his  character ;  and  the  course  being  substantially 
the  same,  the  unknown  ship  approached  but  slowly,  not 
withstanding  the  unusual  quantity  of  sail  she  had  set.  At 
the  end  of  the  period  mentioned,  the  vessels  in  the  south 
eastern  board  began  to  be  visible  from  the  deck.  The  ocean 
was  so  white  with  foam,  that  it  was  not  easy  to  distinguish 
a  ship,  under  short  canvass,  at  any  great  distance ;  but,  by 
the  aid  of  glasses,  both  Sir  Gervaise  and  Greenly  satisfied 
themselves  that  the  number  of  the  enemy  at  the  southward 
amounted  to  just  twenty ;  one  more  having  hove  in  sight, 
and  been  signalled  by  the  Chloe,  since  her  first  report 
Several  of  these  vessels,  however,  were  small ;  and,  the 
vice-admiral,  after  a  long  and  anxious  survey,  lowered  his 
glass  and  turned  to  his  captain  in  order  to  compare  opinions. 

"  Well,  Greenly,"  he  asked,  "  what  do  you  make  of 
them,  now  1 — According  to  my  reckoning,  there  are  thirteen 
of  the  line,  two  frigates,  four  corvettes,  and  a  lugger ;  or 
iwenty  sail  in  all." 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  twenty  sail,  Sir  Gervaise, 
though  the  vessels  astern  are  still  too  distant  to  speak  of 
their  size.  I  rather  think  it  will  turn  out  fourteen  of  the 
line  and  only  three  frigates. 


320  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  That  is  rather  too  much  for  us,  certainly,  without 
water.  His  five  ships,  now,  and  this  westerly  position,, 
would  make  a  cheering  prospect  for  us.  We  might  stick  by 
Mr.  de  Vervillin  until  it  moderated,  and  then  pay  our  re 
spects  to  him.  What  do  you  say  to  that>  Greenly  ?" 

"  That  it  is  of  no  great  moment,  Sir  Gervaise,  so  long  as 
the  other  division  is  not  with  us.  But  yonder  are  signals 
flying  on  board  the  Active,  the  Warspite,  and  the  Blenheim." 

"  Ay,  they  Ve  something  to  tell  us  of  the  chap  astern  and 
to  windward.  Come,  Bunting,  give  us  the  news." 

"*  Stranger  in  the  northwest  shows  the  Druid's  num 
ber;'  "  the  signal-officer  read  mechanically  from  the  book. 

"  The  deuce  he  does  !  Then  Bluewater  cannot  be  far  off. 
Let  Dick  alone  for  keeping  in  his  proper  place ;  he  has  an 
instinct  for  a  line  of  battle,  and  I  never  knew  him  fail  to  be 
in  the  very  spot  I  could  wish  to  have  him,  looking  as  much 
at  home,  as  if  his  ships  had  all  been  built  there !  The 
Druid's  number !  The  Caesar  and  the  rest  of  them  are  in  a 
line  ahead,  further  north,  heading  up  well  to  windward  even 
of  our  own  wake.  This  puts  the  Comte  fairly  under  our 
lee." 

But  Greenly  was  far  from  being  of  a  temperament  as 
sanguine  as  that  of  the  vice-admiral's.  He  did  not  like  the 
circumstance  of  the  Druid's  being  alone  visible,  and  she, 
too,  under  what  in  so  heavy  a  gale,  might  be  deemed  a  press 
of  canvass.  There  was  no  apparent  reason  for  the  divi 
sion's  carrying  sail  so  hard,  while  the  frigate  would  be 
obliged  to  do  it,  did  she  wish  to  overtake  vessels  like  the 
Plantagenet  and  her  consorts.  He  suggested,  therefore,  the 
probability  that  the  ship  was  alone,  and  that  her  object  might 
be  to  speak  them. 

"  There  is  something  in  what  you  say,  Greenly,"  an 
swered  Sir  Gervaise,  after  a  minute's  reflection  ;  "  and  we 
must  look  into  it.  If  Denham  doesn't  give  us  anything  new 
from  the  Count  to  change  our  plans,  ft  may  be  well  to  learn 
what  the  Druid  is  after." 

Denham  was  the  commander  of  the  Chloe,  which  ship,, 
a  neat  six-and-thirty,  was  pitching  into  the  heavy  seas  that 
now  came  rolling  in  heavily  from  the  broad  Atlantic,  the 
water  streaming  from  her  hawse-holes,  as  she  rose  from 
each  plunge,  like  the  spouts  of  a  whale.  This  vessel,  * 


THE     TWO    ADMIRALS  321 

has  been  stated,  was  fully  a  league  ahead  and  to  leeward  of 
the  Plantagenet,  and  consequently  so  much  nearer  to  the 
French,  who  were  approaching  from  that  precise  quarter  of 
the  ocean,  in  a  long  single  line,  like  that  of  the  English ;  a 
little  relieved,  however,  by  the  look-out  vessels,  all  of  which, 
in  their  case,  were  sailing  along  on  the  weather-beam  of 
their  friends.  The  distance  was  still  so  great,  as  to  render 
glasses  necessary  in  getting  any  very  accurate  notions  of  the 
force  and  the  point  of  sailing  of  Monsieur  de  Vervillin's 
fleet,  the  ships  astern  being  yet  so  remote  as  to  require  long 
practice  to  speak  with  any  certainty  of  their  characters.  ID 
nothing,  notwithstanding,  was  the  superior  practical  seaman 
ship  of  the  English  more  apparent,  than  in  the  manner  in 
which  these  respective  lines  were  formed.  That  of  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  Oakes  was  compact,  each  ship  being  as  near  as  might 
be  a  cable's-length  distant  from  her  seconds  ahead  and 
astern.  This  was  a  point  on  which  the  vice-admiral  prided 
himself;  and  by  compelling  his  captains  rigidly  to  respect 
their  line  of  sailing,  and  by  keeping  the  same  ships  and 
officers,  as  much  as  possible,  under  his  orders,  each  captain 
of  the  fleet  had  got  to  know  his  own  vessel's  rate  of  speed 
and  all  the  other  qualities  that  were  necessary  to  maintain 
her  precise  position.  All  the  ships  being  weatherly,  though 
some,  in  a  slight  degree,  were  more  so  than  others,  it  wa? 
easy  to  keep  the  line  in  weather  like  the  present,  the  wind 
not  blowing  sufficiently  hard  to  render  a  few  cloths  more  or 
less  of  canvass  of  any  very  great  moment.  If  there  was 
a  vessel  sensibly  out  of  her  place,  in  the  entire  line,  it  was 
the  Achilles ;  Lord  Morganic  not  having  had  time  to  get  all 
his  forward  spars  as  far  aft  as  they  should  have  been ;  a 
circumstance  that  had  knocked  him  off  a  little  more  than 
had  happened  to  the  other  vessels.  Nevertheless,  had  an 
air-line  been  drawn  at  this  moment,  from  the  mizzen-top  of 
the  Plantagenet  to  that  of  the  Warspite,  it  would  have  been 
found  to  pass  through  the  spars  of  quite  half  the  intermediate 
vessels,  and  no  one  of  them  all  would  have  been  a  pistol-shot 
out  of  the  way.  As  there  were  six  intervals  between  the 
vessels,  and  each  interval  as  near  as  could  be  guessed  at 
was  a  cable's-length,  the  extent  of  the  whole  line  a  little 
exceeded  three-quarters  of  a  mile. 
On  the  other  hanct  the  French,  though  they  preserved  a 


322  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

very  respectable  degree  of  order,  were  much  less  compact, 
and  by  no  means  as  methodical  in  their  manner  of  sailing. 
Some  of  their  ships  were  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  leeward  of 
the  line,  and  the  intervals  were  irregular  and  ill-observed. 
These  circumstances  arose  from  several  causes,  neither  of 
which  proceeded  from  any  fault  in  the  commander-in-chief, 
who  was  both  an  experienced  seaman  and  a  skilful  tactician. 
But  his  captains  were  new  to  each  other,  and  some  of  them 
were  recently  appointed  to  their  ships  ;  it  being  just  as  much 
a  matter  of  course  that  a  seaman  should  ascertain  the  quali 
ties  of  his  vessel,  by  familiarity,  as  that  a  man  should  learn 
the  character  of  his  wife,  in  the  intimacy  of  wedlock. 

At  the  precise  moment  of  which  we  are  now  writing,  the 
Chloe  might  have  been  about  a  league  from  the  leading 
vessel  of  the  enemy,  and  her  position  to  leeward  of  her  own 
fleet  threatened  to  bring  her,  half  an  hour  later,  within 
range  of  the  Frenchmen's  guns.  This  fact  was  apparent  to 
all  in  the  squadron ;  still  the  frigate  stood  on,  having  been 
placed  in  that  station,  and  the  whole  being  under  the  imme 
diate  supervision  of  the  commander-in-chief. 

"  Denham  will  have  a  warm  berth  of  it,  sir,  should  he 
stand  on  much  longer,"  said  Greenly,  when  ten  minutes 
more  had  passed,  during  which  the  ships  had  gradually 
drawn  nearer. 

"  I  was  hoping  he  might  get  between  the  most  weatherly 
French  frigate  and  her  line,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise ;  "  when 
I  think,  by  edging  rapidly  away,  we  could  take  her  alive, 
with  the  Plantagenet." 

"  In  which  case  we  might  as  well  clear  for  action ;  such 
a  manoeuvre  being  certain  to  bring  on  a  general  engage 
ment." 

«  NO — no — I  *m  not  quite  mad  enough  for  that,  Master 
Telemachws ;  but,  we  can  wait  a  little  longer  for  the  chances. 
How  many  flags  can  you  make  out  among  the  enemy, 
Bunting?" 

"  I  see  but  two,  Sir  Gervaise ;  one  at  the  fore,  and  the 
other  at  the  mizzen,  like  our  own.  I  can  make  out,  now, 
only  twelve  ships  of  the  line,  too ;  neither  of  which  is  a 
three-decker." 

"  So  much  for  rumour ;  as  flagrant  a  liar  as  ever  wagged 
a  tongue !  Twelve  ships  on  two  decks*  and  eight  frigates, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  323 

sloops,  and  luggers.  There  can  be  no  great  mistake  in 
this." 

"  I  think  not,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  their  commander-in-chief  is 
in  the  fourth  ship  from  the  head  of  the  line.  His  flag  is  just 
discernible,  by  means  of  our  best  glass.  Ay,  there  goes  a 
signal,  this  instant,  up  at  the  end  of  his  gaff!" 

"  If  one  could  only  read  French  now,  Greenly,"  said  the 
vice-admiral,  smiling ;  "  we  might  get  into  some  of  Mr.  de 
Vervillin's  secrets.  Perhaps  it 's  an  order  to  go  to  quarters 
or  to  clear ;  look  out  sharp,  Bunting,  for  any  signs  of  such 
a  movement.  What  do  you  make  of  it  ?" 

"  It 's  to  the  frigates,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  all  of  which  answer, 
while  the  other  vessels  do  not," 

"  We  want  no  French  to  read  that  signal,  sir,"  put  in 
Greenly  j  "  the  frigates  themselves  telling  us  what  it  means. 
Monsieur  de  Vervillin  has,  no  idea  of  letting  the  Plantagenet 
take  anything  he  has,  alive." 

This  was  true  enough.  Just  as  the  captain  spoke,  the 
object  of  the  order  was  made  sufficiently  apparent,  by  all 
the  light  vessels  to  windward  of  the  French  fleet,  bearing  up 
together,  until  they  brought  the  wind  abaft  their  beams, 
when  away  they  glided  to  leeward,  like  floating  objects  that 
have  suddenly  struck  a  swift  current.  Before  this  change 
in  their  course,  these  frigates  and  corvettes  had  been  strug 
gling  along,  the  seas  meeting  them  on  their  weather-bows, 
at  the  rate  of  about  two  knots,  or  rather  less  ;  whereas,  their 
speed  was  now  quadrupled,  and  in  a  few  minutes,  the  whole 
of  them  had  sailed  through  the  different  intervals  in  their 
main  line,  and  had  formed  as  before,  nearly  half  a  league  to 
leeward  of  it  Here,  in  the  event  of  an  action,  their  principal 
duties  would  have  been  to  succour  crippled  ships  that  might 
be  forced  out  of  their  allotted  stations  during  the  combat. 
All  this  Sir  Gervaise  viewed  with  disgust.  He  had  hoped 
his  enemy  might  have  presumed  on  the  state  of  the  elements, 
and  suffered  his  light  vessels  to  maintain  their  original  posi 
tions. 

"  It  would  be  a  great  triumph  to  us,  Greenly,"  he  said, 
«'  if  Denham  could  pass  without  shifting  his  berth.  There 
would  be  something  manly  and  seamanlike  in  an  inferior 
fleet's  passing  a  superior,  in  such  a  style." 

"  Yes,  sir,  though  it  migH  cost  us  a  fine  frigate.     The 


324  THE     TWO     ADMIRAL  9. 

count  can  have  no  difficulty  in  fighting  his  weather  main- 
deck  guns,  and  a  discharge  from  two  or  three  of  his  leading 
vessels  might  cut  away  some  spar  that  Denham  would  raiss 
sadly,  just  at  such  a  moment." 

Sir  Gervaise  placed  his  hands  behind  his  back,  paced  the 
deck  a  minute,  and  then  said  decidedly — 

"  Bunting,  make  the  Chloe's  signal  to  ware — tacking  in 
this  sea,  and  under  that  short  canvass,  is  out  of  the  question." 

Bunting  had  anticipated  this  order,  and  had  even  ventured 
clandestinely  to  direct  the  quarter-masters  to  bend  on  the 
necessary  flags ;  and  Sir  Gervaise  had  scarcely  got  the  words 
out  of  his  mouth,  before  the  signal  was  abroad.  The  Chloe 
was  equally  on  the  alert ;  for  she  too  each  moment  expected 
the  command,  and  ere  her  answering  flag  was  seen,  her 
helm  was  up,  the  mizzen-staysail  down,  and  her  head  falling 
off  rapidly  towards  the  enemy.  This  movement  seemed  to 
be  expected  all  round — and  it  certainly  had  been  delayed  to 
the  very  last  moment — for  the  leading  French  ship  fell  off 
three  or  four  points,  and  as  the  frigate  was  exactly  end-on 
to  her,  let  fly  the  contents  of  all  the  guns  on  her  forecastle, 
as  well  as  of  those  on  her  main-deck,  as  far  aft  as  they  could 
be  brought  to  bear.  One  of  the  top-sail-sheets  of  the  frigate 
was  shot  away  by  this  rapid  and  unexpected  fire,  and  some 
little  damage  was  done  to  the  standing  rigging ;  but,  luckily, 
none  of  immediate  moment.  Captain  Denham  was  active, 
and  the  instant  he  found  his  topsail  flapping,  he  ordered  it 
clewed  up,  and  the  mainsail  loosed.  The  latter  was  set, 
close-reefed,  as  the  ship  came  to  the  wind  on  the  larboard 
tack,  and  by  the  time  everything  was  braced  up  and  hauled 
aft,  on  that  tack,  the  main-top-sail  was  ready  to  be  sheeted 
home,  anew.  During  the  few  minutes  that  these  evolutions 
required,  Sir  Gervaise  kept  his  eye  riveted  on  the  vessel ; 
and  when  he  saw  her  fairly  round,  and  trimmed  by  the 
wind,  again,  with  the  mainsail  dragging  her  ahead,  to  own 
the  truth,  he  felt  mentally  relieved. 

"  Not  a  minute  too  soon,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the 
cautious  Greenly,  smiling.  "  I  should  not  be  surprised  if 
Denham  hears  more  from  that  fellow  at  the  head  of  the 
French  line.  His  weather  chase-guns  are  exactly  in  a  range 
with  the  frigate,  and  the  two  upper  ones  might  be  worked, 
well  enough." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  325 

"  I  think  not,  Greenly.  The  forecastle  gun,  possibly , 
scarcely  anything  below  it." 

Sir  Gervaise  proved  to  be  partly  right  and  partly  wrong. 
The  Frenchman  did  attempt  a  fire  with  his  main-deck  gun  j 
but,  at  the  first  plunge  of  the  ship,  a  sea  slapped  up  against 
her  weather-bow,  and  sent  a  column  of  water  through  the 
port,  that  drove  half  its  crew  into  the  lee-scuppers.  In  the 
midst  of  this  water-spout,  the  gun  exploded,  the  loggerhead 
having  been  applied  an  instant  before,  giving  a  sort  of  chaotic 
wildness  to  the  scene  in-board.  This  satisfied  the  party 
below ;  though  that  on  the  forecastle  fared  better.  The  last 
fired  their  gun  several  times,  and  always  without  success. 
This  failure  proceeded  from  a  cause  that  is  seldom  sufficiently 
estimated  by  nautical  gunners ;  the  shot  having  swerved 
from  the  line  of  sight,  by  the  force  of  the  wind  against  which 
it  flew,  two  or  three  hundred  feet,  by  the  time  it  had  gone 
the  mile  that  lay  between  the  vessels.  Sir  Gervaise  anxiously 
watched  the  effect  of  the  fire,  and  perceiving  that  all  the  shot 
fell  to  leeward  of  the  Chloe,  he  was  no  longer  uneasy  about 
that  vessel,  and  he  began  to  turn  his  attention  to  other  and 
more  important  concerns. 

As  we  are  now  approaching  a  moment  when  it  is  neces 
sary  that  the  reader  should  receive  some  tolerably  distinct 
impressions  of  the  relative  positions  of  the  two  entire  fleets, 
we  shall  close  the  present  chapter,  here  ;  reserving  the 
duty  of  explanation  for  the  commencement  of  a  new  one. 
28 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTEK  XXII. 

"  All  were  glad, 

And  laughed,  and  shouted,  as  she  darted  on, 
And  plunged  amid  the  foam,  and  tossed  it  high, 
Over  the  deck,  as  when  a  strong,  curbed  steed 
Flings  the  froth  from  him  in  his  eager  race." 

PKRCIVAL. 

THE  long  twilight  of  a  high  latitude  had  now  ended,  and 
the  sun,  though  concealed  behind  clouds,  had  risen.  The 
additional  light  contributed  to  lessen  the  gloomy  look  of  the 
ocean,  though  the  fury  of  the  winds  and  waves  still  lent  to 
it  a  dark  and  menacing  aspect.  To  windward  there  were 
no  signs  of  an  abatement  of  the  gale,  while  the  heavens  con 
tinued  to  abstain  from  letting  down  their  floods,  on  the 
raging  waters  beneath.  By  this  time,  the  fleet  was  materi 
ally  to  the  southward  of  Cape  la  Hogue,  though  far  to  the 
westward,  where  the  channel  received  the  winds  and  waves 
from  the  whole  rake  of  the  Atlantic,  and  the  seas  were  set 
ting  in,  in  the  long,  regular  swells  of  the  ocean,  a  little  dis 
turbed  by  the  influence  of  the  tides.  Ships  as  heavy  as  the 
two-deckers  moved  along  with  groaning  efforts,  their  bulk 
heads  and  timbers  "  complaining,"  to  use  the  language  of 
the  sea,  as  the  huge  masses,  loaded  with  their  iron  artillery, 
rose  and  sunk  on  the  coming  and  receding  billows.  But 
their  movements  were  stately  and  full  of  majesty  ;  whereas, 
the  cutter,  sloop,  and  even  the  frigates,  seemed  to  be  tossed 
like  foam,  very  much  at  the  mercy  of  the  elements.  The 
Chloe  was  passing  the  admiral,  on  the  opposite  tack,  quite  a 
mile  to  leeward,  and  yet,  as  she  mounted  to  the  summit  of 
a  wave,  her  cut- water  was  often  visible  nearly  to  the  keel. 
These  are  the  trials  of  a  vessel's  strength ;  for,  were  a  ship 
always  water-borne  equally  on  all  her  lines,  there  would  not 
be  the  necessity  which  now  exists  to  make  her  the  well-knit 
mass  of  wood  and  iron  she  is. 

The  progress  of  the  two  fleets  was  very  much  the  same, 
both  squadrons  struggling  along  through  the  billows,  at  the 
rate  of  about  a  marine  league  in  the  hour.  As  no  lofty  sail 
was  carried,  and  the  vessels  were  first  made  in  the  haze  of  a 


THE    TWO    ADMlKAfca.  327 

clouded  morning,  the  ships  had  not  become  visible  to  each 
other  until  nearer  than  common ;  and,  by  the  time  at  which 
we  have  now  arrived  in  our  tale,  the  leading  vessels  were  se  < 
parated  by  a  space  that  did  not  exceed  two  miles,  estimating 
the  distance  only  on  their  respective  lines  of  sailing  ;  though 
there  would  be  about  the  same  space  between  them  when 
abreast,  the  English  being  so  much  to  windward  of  their  en 
emies.  Any  one  in  the  least  familiar  with  nautical  manoeu 
vres  will  understand  that  these  circumstances  would  bring 
the  van  of  the  French  and  the  rear  of  their  foes  much  nearer 
together  in  passing,  both  fleets  being  close-hauled. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  as  a  matter  of  course,  watched  the 
progress  of  the  two  lines  with  close  and  intelligent  attention. 
Mons.  de  Vervillin  did  the  same  from  the  poop  of  le  Fou- 
droyant,  a  noble  eighty-gun  ship  in  which  his  flag  of  vice- 
amiral  was  flying,  as  it  might  be,  in  defiance.  By  the 
side  of  the  former  stood  Greenly,  Bunting,  and  Bury,  the 
Plantagenet's  first  lieutenant ;  by  the  side  of  the  latter  his 
capitaine  de  vaisseau,  a  man  as  little  like  the  caricatures  of 
such  officers,  as  a  hostile  feeling  has  laid  before  the  readers 
of  English  literature,  as  Washington  was  like  the  man  held 
up  to  odium  in  the  London  journals,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  great  American  war.  M.  de  Vervillin  himself  was 
a  man  of  respectable  birth,  of  a  scientific  education,  and  of 
great  familiarity  with  ships,  so  far  as  a  knowledge  of  their 
general  powers  and  principles  was  concerned ;  but  here  his 
professional  excellence  ceased,  all  that  infinity  of  detail 
which  composes  the  distinctive  merit  of  the  practical  seaman 
being,  in  a  great  degree,  unknown  to  him,  rendering  it  ne 
cessary  for  him  to  think  in  moments  of  emergency  ;  periods 
when  the  really  prime  mariner  seems  more  to  act  by  a  sort 
of  instinct  than  by  any  very  intelligible  process  of  ratioci 
nation.  With  his  fleet  drawn  out  before  him,  however,  and 
with  no  unusual  demands  on  his  resources,  this  gallant  offi 
cer  was  an  exceedingly  formidable  foe  to  contend  with  in 
squadron. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  lost  all  his  constitutional  and  feverish 
impatience  while  the  fleets  drew  nigher  and  nigher.  As  is 
not  unusual  with  brave  men,  who  are  naturally  excitable, 
as  the  crisis  approached  he  grew  calmer  and  obtained  a 
more  perfect  command  over  himself;  seeing  all  things  in 


328  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

their  true  colours,  and  feeling  more  and  more  equal  to  con 
trol  them.  He  continued  to  walk  the  poop,  but  it  was  with  a 
slower  step ;  and,  though  his  hands  were  still  closed  behind 
his  back,  the  fingers  were  passive,  while  his  countenance 
became  grave  and  his  eye  thoughtful.  Greenly  knew  that 
his  interference  would  now  be  hazardous  ;  for  whenever  the 
vice-admiral  assumed  that  air,  he  literally  became  command- 
er-in-chief ;  and  any  attempt  to  control  or  influence  him, 
unless  sustained  by  the  communication  of  new  facts,  could 
only  draw  down  resentment  on  his  own  head.  Bunting,  too, 
was  aware  that  the  "  admiral  was  aboard,"  as  the  officers> 
among  themselves,  used  to  describe  this  state  of  their  supe 
rior's  mind,  and  was  prepared  to  discharge  his  own  duty  in 
the  most  silent  and  rapid  manner  in  his  power.  All  the 
others  present  felt  more  or  less  of  this  same  influence  of  an 
established  character. 

"  Mr.  Bunting,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  when  the  distance 
between  the  Plantagenet  and  le  Temerajre,  the  leading 
French  vessel,  might  have  been  about  a  league,  allowing  for 
the  difference  in  the  respective  lines  of  sailing — "  Mr.  Bun 
ting,  bend  on  the  signal  for  the  ships  to  go  to  quarters.  We 
may  as  well  be  ready  for  any  turn  of  the  dice." 

No  one  dared  to  comment  on  this  order :  it  was  obeyed  in 
readiness  and  silence. 

"  Signal  ready,  Sir  Gervaise,"  said  Bunting,  the  instant 
the  last  flag  was  in  its  place. 

"  Run  it  up  at  once,  sir,  and  have  a  bright  look-out  for 
the  answers.  Captain  Greenly,  go  to  quarters,  and  see  all 
clear  on  the  main-deck,  to  use  the  batteries  if  wanted.  The 
people  can  stand  fast  below,  as  I  think  it  might  be  danger 
ous  to  open  the  ports." 

Captain  Greenly  passed  off  the  poop  to  the  quarter-deck, 
and  in  a  minute  the  drum  and  fife  struck  up  the  air  which 
is  known  all  over  the  civilized  world  as  the  call  to  arms. 
In  most  services  this  summons  is  made  by  the  drum  alone, 
which  emits  sounds  to  which  the  fancy  has  attached  pecu 
liar  words  ;  those  of  the  soldiers  of  France  being  "  prend 
ton  sac — ^prend  ton  sac — prend  ton  sac,"  no  bad  represent 
atives  of  the  meaning ;  but  in  English  and  American  ships, 
this  appeal  is  usually  made  in  company  with  the  notes  of  the 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  329 

ear-piercing  fife,"  which  gives  it  a  melody  that  might 
otherwise  be  wanting. 

"  Signal  answered  throughout  the  fleet,  Sir  Gervaise," 
said  Bunting. 

No  answer  was  given  to  this  report  beyond  a  quiet  incli 
nation  of  the  head.  After  a  moment's  pause,  however,  the 
vice-admiral  turned  to  his  signal  officer  and  said — 

"  I  should  think,  Bunting,  no  captain  can  need  an  order 
to  tell  him  not  to  open  his  lee-lower-deck  ports  in  such  a  sea 
as  this  1" 

"  I  rather  fancy  not,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Bunting, 
looking  drolly  at  the  boiling  element  that  gushed  up  each 
minute  from  beneath  the  bottom  of  the  ship,  in  a  way  to 
appear  as  high  as  the  hammock-cloths.  "  The  people  at 
the  main-deck  guns  would  have  rather  a  wet  time  of  it." 

"  Bend  on  the  signal,  sir,  for  the  ships  astern  to  keep  in 
the  vice-admiral's  wake.  Young  gentleman,"  to  the  mid 
shipman  who  always  acted  as  his  aid  in  battle,  "  tell  Captain 
Greenly  I  desire  to  see  him  as  soon  as  he  has  received  all 
the  reports." 

Down  to  the  moment  when  the  first  tap  of  the  drum  was 
heard,  the  Plantagenet  had  presented  a  scene  of  singulai 
quiet  and  unconcern,  considering  the  circumstances  in  which 
she  was  placed.  A  landsman  would  scarcely  credit  that 
men  could  be  so  near  their  enemies,  and  display  so  much 
indifference  to  their  vicinity ;  but  this  was  the  result  of  long 
habit,  and  a  certain  marine  instinct  that  tells  the  sailor  when 
anything  serious  is  in  the  wind,  and  when  not.  The  differ 
ence  in  the  force  of  the  two  fleets,  the  heavy  gale,  and 
the  weatherly  position  of  the  English,  all  conspired  to  assure 
the  crew  that  nothing  decisive  could  yet  occur.  Here  and 
there  an  officer  or  an  old  seaman  might  be  seen  glancing 
through  a  port,  to  ascertain  the  force  and  position  of  the 
French ;  but,  on  the  whole,  their  fleet  excited  little  more  at 
tention  than  if  lying  at  anchor  in  Cherbourg.  The  break 
fast  hour  was  approaching,  and  that  important  event  mono 
polized  the  principal  interest  of  the  moment.  The  officers' 
boys,  in  particular,  began  to  make  their  appearance  around 
the  galley,  provided,  as  usual,  with  their  pots  and  dishes, 
and,  now  and  then,  one  cast  a  careless  glance  through  the 
nearest  opening  to  see  how  the  strangers  looked ;  but  as  tf 
28* 


380  THE    TWO   ADMIRAL  8. 

warfare,  there  was  much  more  the  appearance  of  it  between 
the  protectors  of  the  rights  of  the  different  messes,  than  be 
tween  the  two  great  belligerent  navies  themselves. 

Nor  was  the  state  of  things  materially  different  in  the 
gun-room,  or  cock-pit,  or  on  the  orlops.  Most  of  the  people 
of  a  two-decked  ship  are  berthed  on  the  lower  gun-deck,  and 
the  order  to  "  clear  ship"  is  more  necessary  to  a  vessel  of 
that  construction,  before  going  to  quarters  seriously,  than  to 
smaller  craft ;  though  it  is  usual  in  all.  So  long  as  the 
bags,  mess-chests,  and  other  similar  appliances  were  left  in 
their  ordinary  positions,  Jack  saw  little  reason  to  derange 
himself;  and  as  reports  were  brought  below,  from  time  to 
time,  respecting  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  more  espe 
cially  of  his  being  well  to  leeward,  few  of  those  whose  duty 
did  not  call  them  on  deck  troubled  themselves  about  the  mat 
ter  at  all.  This  habit  of  considering  his  fortune  as  attached 
to  that  of  his  ship,  and  of  regarding  himself  as  a  point  on 
her  mass,  as  we  all  look  on  ourselves  as  particles  of  the  orb 
we  accompany  in  its  revolutions,  is  sufficiently  general 
among  mariners ;  but  it  was  particularly  so  as  respects  the 
sailors  of  a  fleet,  who  were  kept  so  much  at  sea,  and  who 
had  been  so  often,  with  all  sorts  of  results,  in  the  presence 
of  the  enemy.  The  scene  that  was  passing  in  the  gun-room 
at  the  precise  moment  at  which  our  tale  has  arrived,  was 
so  characteristic,  in  particular,  as  to  merit  a  brief  descrip 
tion. 

All  the  idlers  by  this  time  were  out  of  their  berths  and 
cotts ;  the  signs  of  those  who  "  slept  in  the  country,"  as  it 
is  termed,  or  who  were  obliged,  for  want  of  state-rooms,  to 
sling  in  the  common  apartment,  having  disappeared.  Ma- 
grath  was  reading  a  treatise  on  medicine,  in  good  Leyden 
Latin,  by  a  lamp.  The  purser  was  endeavouring  to  decipher 
his  steward's  hieroglyphics,  favoured  by  the  same  light-,  and 
the  captain  of  marines  was  examining  the  lock  of  an  aged 
musket.  The  third  and  fourth  lieutenants  were  helping  each 
other  to  untangle  one  of  their  Bay-of-Biscay  reckonings, 
which  had  set  both  plane  and  spherical  trigonometry  at  defi 
ance,  by  a  lamp  of  their  own;  and  the  chaplain  was  hurry 
ing  the  steward  and  the  boys  along  with  the  breakfast — his 
usual  occupation  at  that  "  witching  time"  in  the  morning. 

While  things  were  m  this  state,  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  331 

Bury,  appeared  in  the  gun-room.  His  arrival  caused  one 
or  two  of  the  mess  to  glance  upward  at  him,  though  no  one 
spoke  but  the  junior  lieutenant,  who,  being  an  honourable, 
was  at  his  ease  with  every  one  on  board,  short  of  the  cap 
tain. 

"  What 's  the  news  from  deck,  Bury  1"  asked  this  officer, 
a  youth  of  twenty,  his  senior  being  a  man  ten  years  older. 
"  Is  Mr.  de  Vervillin  thinking  of  running  away  yet  ?" 

"  Not  he,  sir  ;  there  's  too  much  of  the  game-cock  about 
him  for  that:' 

"  I  '11  warrant  you,  he  can  crow  !  But  what  is  the  news, 
Bury?" 

"  The  news  is  that  the  old  Planter  is  as  wet  as  a  wash- 
tub,  forward,  and  I  must  have  a  dry  jacket — do  you  hear, 
there,  Tom  1  Soundings,"  turning  to  the  master,  who  just 
then  came  in  from  forward,  "  have  you  taken  a  look  out  of 
doors  this  morning  ?" 

"  You  know  I  seldom  forget  that,  Mr.  Bury.  A  pretty 
pickle  the  ship  would  soon  be  in,  if  /  forgot  to  look  about 
me!" 

"  He  swallowed  the  deep-sea,  down  in  the  bay,"  cried  the 
honourable,  laughing,  "  and  goes  every  morning  at  day 
light  to  look  for  it  out  at  the  bridle-ports." 

«'  Well,  then,  Soundings,  what  do  you  think  of  the  third 
ship  in  the  French  line  ?"  continued  Bury,  disregarding  the 
levity  of  the  youth  :  "  did  you  ever  see  such  top-masts,  as 
she  carries,  before  ?" 

"  1  scarce  ever  saw  a  Frenchman  without  them,  Mr. 
Bury.  You  'd  have  just  such  sticks  in  this  fleet,  if  Sir 
Jarvy  would  stand  them." 

"  Ay,  but  Sir  Jarvy  won't  stand  them.  The  captain  who 
sent  such  a  stick  up  in  his  ship,  would  have  to  throw  it  over 
board  before  night.  I  never  saw  such  a  pole  in  the  air  in 
my  life  !" 

"  What 's  the  matter  with  the  mast,  Mr.  Bury  ?"  put  in 
Magrath,  who  kept  up  what  he  called  constant  scientific 
skirmishes  with  the  elder  sea-officers  ;  the  junior  being  too 
inexperienced  in  his  view  to  be  worthy  of  a  contest.  "  I  '11 
engage  the  spar  is  moulded  and  fashioned  agreeably  to  the 
most  approved  pheelosphical  principles ;  for  in  that  the 
French  certainly  excel  us." 


332  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  Who  ever  heard  of  moulding  a  spar  ?"  interrupted 
Soundings,  laughing  loudly,  "  we  mould  a  ship's  frame, 
Doctor,  but  we  lengthen  and  shorten,  and  scrape  and  Jid 
her  masts." 

"  I  'm  answered  as  usual,  gentlemen,  and  voted  down,  I 
suppose,  by  acclamation,  as  they  call  it  in  other  learned  bo 
dies.  I  would  advise  no  creature  that  has  a  reason  to  go  to 
sea ;  an  instinct  being  all  that  is  needed  to  make  a  Lord 
High  Admiral  of  twenty  tails." 

"  I  should  like  Sir  Jarvy  to  hear  that,  my  man  of  books," 
cried  the  fourth,  who  had  just  satisfied  himself  that  a  book 
was  not  his  own  forte—"  I  fancy  your  instinct,  doctor,  will 
prevent  you  from  whispering  this  in  the  vice-admiral's^ear  !" 

Although  Magrath  had  a  profound  respect  for  the  com- 
mander-in-chief,  he  was  averse  to  giving  in,  in  a  gun 
room  discussion.  His  answer,  therefore,  partook  of  the 
feeling  of  the  moment. 

"  Sir  Gervaise,"  (he  pronounced  this  word  Jairvis)  "  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes,  honourable  sir,"  he  said,  with  a  sneer, 
"may  be  a  good  seaman,  but  he's  no  linguist.  Now,  there 
he  was,  ashore  among  the  dead  and  dying,  just  as  ignorant 
of  the  meaning  of  flius  nullius,  which  is  boy's  Latin,  as  if 
he  had  never  seen  a  horn-book  !  Nevertheless,  gentlemen, 
it  is  science,  and  not  even  the  classics,  that  makes  the  man  ; 
as  for  a  creature's  getting  the  sciences  by  instinct,  I  shall 
contend  it  is  against  the  possibilities,  whereas  the  attainment 
of  what  you  call  seamanship,  is  among  even  the  lesser  pro 
babilities." 

"  This  is  the  most  marine-ish  talk  I  ever  heard  from  your 
mouth,  doctor,"  interrupted  Soundings.  "  How  the  devil 
can  a  man  tell  how  to  ware  ship  by  instinct,  as  you  call  it, 
if  one  may  ask  the  question  ?" 

"  Simply,  Soundings,  because  the  process  of  ratiocination 
is  dispensed  with.  Do  you  have  to  think  in  waring  ship, 
now  ? — I  '11  put  it  to  your  own  honour,  for  the  answer." 

"  Think  ! — I  should  be  a  poor  creature  for  a  master,  in 
deed,  if  much  thinking  were  wanting  in  so  simple  a  matter 
as  tacking  or  veering.  No — no — your  real  sea-dog  has  no 
occasion  for  thinking,  when  he  has  his  work  before  him." 

"  That  '11  just  be  it,  gentlemen  ! — that  '11  be  just  what  I  'm 
telling  ye,"  cried  the  doctor,  exulting  in  the  success  of  his 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  333 

artifice.  "  Not  only  will  Mr.  Soundings  not  think,  when 
he  has  his  ordinary  duties  to  perform,  but  he  holds  the  pro 
cess  itself  in  merited  contempt,  ye  '11  obsairve ;  and  so  my 
theory  is  established,  by  evidence  of  a  pairty  concerned ; 
which  is  more  than  a  postulate  logically  requires." 

Here  Magrath  dropped  his  book,  and  laughed  with  that 
sort  of  hissing  sound  that  seems  peculiar  to  the  genus  of 
which  he  formed  a  part.  He  was  still  indulging  in  his 
triumph,  when  the  first  tap  of  the  drum  was  heard.  All 
listened ;  every  ear  pricking  like  that  of  a  deer  that  hears 
the  hound,  when  there  followed — "  r-r-r-ap  tap — r-r-r-ap 
tap — r-r-r-ap  tap  a-tap-tap — rap-a-tap — a-rap-a-tap  a-rap-a 
tap — a-tap-tap." 

"  Instinct  or  reason,  Sir  Jarvy  is  going  to  quarters !" 
exclaimed  the  honourable.  "  I  'd  no  notion  we  were  near 
enough  to  the  Monsieurs,  for  that/" 

"  Now,"  said  Magrath,  with  a  grinning  sneer,  as  he  rose 
to  descend  to  the  cock-pit,  "  there  '11  may  be  arise  an  occa 
sion  for  a  little  learning,  when  I  '11  promise  ye  all  the  science 
that  cap  be  mustered  in  my  unworthy  knowledge.  Sound 
ings,  I  may  have  to  heave  the  lead  in  the  depths  of  your 
physical  formation,  in  which  case  I  '11  just  endeevour  to 
ivoid  the  breakers  of  ignorance." 

"  Go  to  the  devil,  or  to  the  cock-pit,  whichever  you 
please,  sir,"  answered  the  master ;  "  I  've  served  in  six 
general  actions,  already,  and  have  never  been  obliged  to  one 
of  your  kidney  for  so  much  as  a  bit  of  court-plaster  or  lint. 
With  me,  oakum  answers  for  one,  and  canvass  for  the 
other." 

While  this  was  saying,  all  hands  were  in  motion.  The 
sea  and  marine  officers  looking  for  their  side-arms,  the  sur 
geon  carefully  collecting  his  books,  and  the  chaplain  seizing 
a  dish  of  cold  beef,  that  was  hurriedly  set  upon  a  table,  car 
rying  it  down  with  him  to  his  quarters,  by  way  of  taking  it 
out  of  harm's  way.  In  a  minute,  the  gun-room  was  cleared 
of  all  who  usually  dwelt  there,  and  their  places  were  sup 
plied  by  the  seamen  who  manned  the  three  or  four  thirty- 
two's  that  were  mounted  in  the  apartment,  together  with 
their  opposiles.  As  the  sea-officers,  in  particular,  appeared 
among  the  men,  their  faces  assumed  an  air  of  authority,  and 


334  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

their  voices  were  heard  calling  out  the  order  to  "tumble 
up,"  as  they  hastened  themselves  to  their  several  stations. 

All  this  time,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  paced  the  poop.  Bunt 
ing  and  the  quarter-master  were  in  readiness  to  hoist  the 
new  signal,  and  Greenly  merely  waited  for  the  reports,  to 
join  the  commander-in-chief.  In  about  five  minutes  after 
the  drum  had  given  its  first  tap,  these  were  completed,  and 
the  captain  ascended  to  the  poop. 

"By  standing  on,  on  our  present  course,  Captain  Greenly," 
observed  Sir  Gervaise,  anxious  to  justify  to  himself  the  evo 
lution  he  contemplated,  "  the  rear  of  our  line  and  the  van 
of  the  French  will  be  brought  within  fair  range  of  shot  from 
each  other,  and,  by  an  accident,  we  might  lose  a  ship ;  since 
any  vessel  that  was  crippled,  would  necessarily  sag  directly 
down  upon  the  enemy.  Now,  I  propose  to  keep  away  in 
the  Plantagenet,  and  just  brush  past  the  leading  French 
ships,  at  about  the  distance  the  Warspite  will  have  to  pass, 
and  so  alter  the  face  of  matters  a  little.  What  do  you  think 
would  be  the  consequence  of  such  a  manoeuvre  ?" 

"  That  the  van  of  our  line  and  the  van  of  the  French  will 
be  brought  as  near  together,  as  you  have  just  said  must 
happen  to  the  rear,  Sir  Gervaise,  in  any  case." 

"  It  does  not  require  a  mathematician  to  tell  that  much, 
sir.  You  will  keep  away,  as  soon  as  Bunting  shows  the 
signal,  and  bring  the  wind  a-beam.  Never  mind  the  braces ; 
let  them  stand  fast ;  as  soon  as  we  have  passed  the  French 
admiral,  I  shall  luff,  again.  This  will  cause  us  to  lose  a 
little  of  our  weatherly  position,  but  about  that  I  am  very  in 
different.  Give  the  order,  sir — Bunting,  run  up  the  signal." 

These  commands  were  silently  obeyed,  and  presently  the 
Plantagenet  was  running  directly  in  the  troughs  of  the  seas, 
with  quite  double  her  former  velocity.  The  other  ships  an 
swered  promptly,  each  keeping  away  as  her  second  ahead 
came  down  to  the  proper  line  of  sailing,  and  all  complying 
to  the  letter  with  an  order  that  was  very  easy  of  execution. 
The  effect,  besides  giving  every  prospect  of  a  distant  en 
gagement,  was  to  straighten  the  line  to  nearly  mathematical 
precision. 

"  Is  it  your  wish,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  we  should  endeavour 
to  open  our  lee  lower  ports  ?"  asked  Greenly.  "  Unless  we 
attempt  something  of  the  sort,  we  shall  have  nothing  heavier 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  335 

than  the  eighteens  to  depend  on,  should  Monsieur  de  Ver- 
villin  see  fit  to  begin." 

"And  will  he  be  any  better  off? — It  would  be  next  to 
madness  to  think  of  fighting  the  lower-deck  guns,  in  such 
weather,  and  we  will  keep  all  fast.  Should  the  French 
commence  the  sport,  we  shall  have  the  advantage  of  being 
to  windward ;  and  the  loss  of  a  few  weather  shrouds  might 
bring  down  the  best  mast  in  their  fleet." 

Greenly  made  no  answer,  though  he  perfectly  understood 
that  the  loss  of  a  mast  would  almost  certainly  ensure  the 
loss  of  the  ship,  did  one  of  his  own  heavier  spars  go.  But 
this  was  Sir  Gervaise's  greatest  weakness  as  a  commander, 
and  he  knew  it  would  be  useless  to  attempt  persuading  him 
to  suffer  a  single  ship  under  his  order  to  pass  the  enemy 
nearer  than  he  went  himself  in  the  Plantagenet.  This  was 
what  he  called  covering  his  ships ;  though  it  amounted  to  no 
more  than  putting  all  of  them  in  the  jeopardy  that  happened 
to  be  unavoidable,  as  regarded  one  or  two. 

The  Comte  de  Vervillin  seemed  at  a  loss  to  understand 
this  sudden  and  extraordinary  movement  in  the  van  of  his 
enemy.  His  signals  followed,  and  his  crews  went  to  their 
guns ;  but  it  was  not  an  easy  matter  for  ships  that  perse 
vered  in  hugging  the  wind  to  make  any  material  alterations 
in  their  relative  positions,  in  such  a  gale.  The  rate  of  sail 
ing  of  the  English,  however,  now  menaced  a  speedy  colli 
sion,  if  collision  were  intended,  and  it  was  time  to  be  stir 
ring,  in  order  to  be  ready  for  it. 

On  the  other  hand,  all  was  quiet,  and,  seemingly,  death 
like,  in  the  English  ships.  Their  people  were  at  their  quar 
ters,  already,  and  this  is  a  moment  of  profound  stillness  in 
a  vessel  of  war.  The  lower  ports  being  down,  the  portions 
of  the  crews  stationed  on  those  decks  were  buried,  as  it 
might  be,  in  obscurity,  while  even  those  above  were  still 
partly  concealed  by  the  half-ports.  There  was  virtually 
nothing  for  the  sail-trimmers  to  do,  and  everything  was  ap 
parently  left  to  the  evolutions  of  the  vast  machines  them 
selves,  in  which  they  floated.  Sir  Gervaise,  Greenly,  and 
the  usual  attendants  still  remained  on  the  poop,  their  eyes 
scarcely  turning  for  an  instant  from  the  fleet  of  the  enemy. 

By  this  time  the  Plantagenet  and  le  Temeraire  were  little 
more  than  a  mile  apart,  each  minute  lessening  this  distance. 


336  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

The  latter  ship  was  struggling  along,  her  bows  plunging 
into  the  seas  to  the  hawse-holes,  while  the  former  had  a 
swift,  easy  motion  through  the  troughs,  and  along  the  sum 
mits  of  the  waves,  her  flattened  sails  aiding  in  steadying  her 
in  the  heavy  lurches  that  unavoidably  accompanied  such  a 
movement.  Still,  a  sea  would  occasionally  break  against 
her  weather  side,  sending  its  crest  upward  in  a  brilliant  jet- 
d'eau,  and  leaving  tons  of  water  on  the  decks.  Sir  Ger- 
vaise's  manner  had  now  lost  every  glimmering  of  excite 
ment.  When  he  spoke,  it  was  in  a  gentle,  pleasant  tone, 
such  as  a  gentleman  might  use  in  the  society  of  women 
The  truth  was,  all  his  energy  had  concentrated  in  the  deter 
mination  to  do  a  daring  deed ;  and,  as  is  not  unusual  with 
the  most  resolute  men,  the  nearer  he  approached  to  the 
consummation  of  his  purpose,  the  more  he  seemed  to  reject 
all  the  spurious  aids  of  manner. 

"  The  French  do  not  open  their  lower  ports,  Greenly," 
observed  the  vice-admiral,  dropping  the  glass  after  one  of 
his  long  looks  at  the  enemy,  "  although  they  have  the  ad 
vantage  of  being  to  leeward.  I  take  that  to  be  a  sign  they 
intend  nothing  very  serious." 

"  We  shall  know  better  five  minutes  hence,  Sir  Gervaise. 
This  ship  slides  along  like  a  London  coach." 

"  His  line  is  lubberly,  after  all,  Greenly  !  Look  at  those 
two  ships  astern — they  are  near  half  a  mile  to  windward  of 
the  rest  of  the  fleet,  and  at  least  half  a  mile  astern.  Hey ! 
Greenly?" 

The  captain  turned  towards  the  rear  of  the  French,  an 
examined  the  positions  of  the  two  ships  mentioned  with  suffi 
cient  deliberation ;  but  Sir  Gervaise  dropped  his  head  in  a 
musing  manner,  and  began  to  pace  the  poop  again.  Once 
or  twice  he  stopped  to  look  at  the  rear  of  the  French  line, 
then  distant  from  him  quite  a  league,  and  as  often  did  he 
resume  his  walk. 

"  Bunting,"  said  the  vice-admiral,  mildly,  "come  this  way, 
(i  moment.  Our  last  signal  was  to  keep  in  the  commander- 
in-chiePs  wake,  and  to  follow  his  motions  ?" 

"  It  was,  Sir  Gervaise.  The  old  order  to  follow  motions, 
*  with  or  without  signals,'  as  one  might  say." 

"  Bend  on  the  signals  to  close  up  in  line,  as  near  as  safe, 
and  to  carry  sail  by  the  flag-ship." 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  337 

uAy,  ay,  Sir  Gervaise — we'll  have  'em  both  up  in  five 
minutes,  sir." 

The  commander-in-chief  now  even  seemed  pleased.  His 
physical  excitement  returned  a  little,  and  a  smile  struggled 
round  his  lip.  His  eye  glanced  at  Greenly,  to  see  if  he 
were  suspected,  and  then  all  his  calmness  of  exterior  re 
turned.  In  the  meantime  the  signals  were  made  and  an 
swered.  The  latter  circumstance  was  reported  to  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  who  cast  his  eyes  down  the  line  astern,  and  saw  that 
the  different  ships  were  already  bracing  in,  and  easing  off 
their  sheets,  in  order  to  diminish  the  spaces  between  the 
different  vessels.  As  soon  as  it  was  apparent  that  the  Car- 
natic  was  drawing  ahead,  Captain  Greenly  was  told  to  lay 
his  main  and  fore-yards  nearly  square,  to  light  up  all  his 
staysail  sheets,  and  to  keep  away  sufficiently  to  make  every 
thing  draw.  Although  these  orders  occasioned  surprise, 
they  were  implicitly  obeyed. 

The  moment  of  meeting  had  now  come.  In  consequence 
of  having  kept  away  so  much,  the  Plantagenet  could  not  be 
quite  three-fourths  of  a  mile  on  the  weather-bow  of  le  Te- 
meraire,  coming  up  rapidly,  and  threatening  a  semi-trans 
verse  fire.  In  order  to  prevent  this,  the  French  ship  edged 
off  a  little,  giving  herself  an  easier  and  more  rapid  move 
ment  through  the  water,  and  bringing  her  own  broadside 
more  fairly  to  the  shock.  This  evolution  was  followed  by 
the  two  next  ships,  a  little  prematurely,  perhaps ;  but  the 
admiral  in  le  Foudroyant,  disdaining  to  edge  off  from  her 
enemy,  kept  her  luff.  The  ships  astern  were  governed  by 
the  course  of  their  superior.  This  change  produced  a  little 
disorder  in  the  van  of  the  French,  menacing  still  greater, 
unless  one  party  or  the  other  receded  from  the  course  taken. 
But  time  pressed,  and  the  two  fleets  were  closing  so  fast  as 
to  induce  other  thoughts. 

"  There 's  lubberly  work  for  you,  Greenly !"  said  Sir 
Gervaise,  smiling.  "  A  commander-in-chief  heading  up 
with  the  bowlines  dragged,  and  his  second  and  third  ahead 
—  not  to  say  fourth  —  running  off  with  the  wind  abeam! 
Now,  if  we  can  knock  the  Comte  off  a  couple  of  points,  in 
passing,  all  his  fellows  astern  will  follo.w,  and  the  Warspite 
and  Blenheim  and  Thunderer  will  slip  by  like  girls  in  a 
29 


338  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

country-dance  !  Send  Bury  down  to  the  main-deck,  with 
orders  to  be  ready  with  those  eighteens." 

Greenly  obeyed,  of  course,  and  he  began  to  think  better 
of  audacity  in  naval  warfare,  than  he  had  done  before,  that 
day.  This  was  the  usual  course  of  things  with  these  two 
officers ;  one  arguing  and  deciding  according  to  the  dictates 
of  a  cool  judgment,  and  the  other  following  his  impulses 
quite  as  much  as  anything  else,  until  facts  supervened  to 
prove  that  human  things  are  as  much  controlled  by  adven 
titious  agencies,  the  results  of  remote  and  unseen  causes,  as 
by  any  well-digested  plans  laid  at  the  moment.  In  their 
cooler  hours,  when  they  came  to  reason  on  the  past,  the 
vice-admiral  generally  consummated  his  triumphs,  by  re 
minding  his  captain  that  if  he  had  not  been  in  the  way  of 
luck,  he  never  could  have  profited  by  it;  no  bad  creed  for  a 
naval  officer,  who  is  otherwise  prudent  and  vigilant. 

The  quarter-masters  of  the  fleet  were  just  striking  six 
bells,  or  proclaiming  that  it  was  seven  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing  watch,  as  the  Plantagenet  and  le  Tcmeraire  came 
abeam  of  each  other.  Both  ships  lurched  heavily  in  the 
troughs  of  the  seas,  and  both  rolled  to  windward  in  stately 
majesty,  and  yet  both  slid  through  the  brine  with  a  mo 
mentum  that  resembled  the  imperceptible  motion  of  a  planet. 
The  water  rolled  back  from  their  black  sides  and  shining 
hammock-cloths,  and  all  the  other  dark  panoply  that  distin 
guishes  a  ship  of  war  glistened  with  the  spray ;  but  no  sign 
of  hostility  proceeded  from  either.  The  French  admiral 
made  no  signal  to  engage,  and  Sir  Gervaise  had  reasons  of 
his  own  for  wishing  to  pass  the  enemy's  van,  if  possible, 
unnoticed.  Minute  passed  after  minute,  in  breathless  si 
lence,  on  board  the  Plantagenet  and  the  Carnatic,  the  latter 
vessel  being  now  but  half  a  cable's-length  astern  of  the  ad 
miral.  Every  eye  that  had  any  outlet  for  such  a  purpose, 
was  riveted  on  the  main-deck  ports  of  le  Temeraire,  in 
expectation  of  seeing  the  fire  issue  from  her  guns.  Each 
instant,  however,  lessened  the  chances,  as  regarded  that 
particular  vessel,  which  was  soon  out  of  the  line  of  fire  from 
the  Plantagenet,  when  the  same  scene  was  to  follow  with 
the  same  result,  in  connection  with  le  Conquereitr,  the 
second  ship  of  the  French  line.  Sir  Gervaise  smiled  as  he 
passed  the  three  first  ships,  seemingly  unnoticed ;  but  as  he 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS 


339 


drew  nearer  to  the  admiral,  he  felt  confident  this  imp  .unity 
must  cease. 

"  What  they  mean  by  it  all,  Greenly,"  he  observed  to  his 
companion,  "  is  more  lhan  I  can  say  ;  but  we  will  go  nearer, 
and  try  to  find  out.  Keep  her  away  a  little  more,  sir ;  keep 
her  away  half  a  point."  Greenly  was  not  disposed  to  re 
monstrate  now,  for  his  prudent  temperament  was  yielding  to 
the  excitement  of  the  moment,  just  reversing  the  traits  of 
Sir  Gervaise's  character ;  the  one  losing  his  extreme  discre 
tion  in  feeling,  as  the  other  gained  by  the  pressure  of  cir 
cumstances.  The  helm  was  eased  a  little,  and  the  ship 
sheered  nearer  to  le  Foudroyant. 

As  is  usual  in  all  services,  the  French  commander-in- 
chief  was  in  one  of  the  best  vessels  of  his  fleet.  Not  only 
was  the  Foudroyant  a  heavy  ship,  carrying  French  forty- 
twos  below,  a  circumstance  that  made  her  rate  as  an  eighty, 
but,  like  the  Plantagenet,  she  was  one  of  the  fastest  and 
most  weatherly  vessels  of  her  class  known.  By  "  hugging 
the  wind,"  this  noble  vessel  had  got,  by  this  time,  materi 
ally  to  windward  of  her  second  and  third  ahead,  and  had 
increased  her  distance  essentially  from  her  supports  astern. 
In  a  word,  she  was  far  from  being  in  a  position  to  be  sus 
tained  as  she  ought  to  be,  unless  she  edged  off  herself,  a 
movement  that  no  one  on  board  her  seemed  to  contemplate. 

"  He  's  a  noble  fellow,  Greenly,  that  Comte  de  Vervillin  !'' 
murmured  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  tone  of  admiration,  "  and  so 
have  I  always  found  him,  and  so  have  I  always  reported 
him,  too !  The  fools  about  the  Gazettes,  and  the  knaves 
about  the  offices,  may  splutter  as  they  will ;  Mr.  de  Vervillin 
would  give  them  plenty  of  occupation  were  they  here.  I 
question  if  he  mean  to  keep  off  in  the  least,  but  insists  on 
holding  every  inch  he  can  gain  !" 

The  next  moment,  however,  satisfied  Sir  Gervaise  that 
he  was  mistaken  in  his  last  conjecture,  the  bows  of  the 
Foudroyant  gradually  falling  off,  until  the  line  of  her  lar 
board  guns  bore,  when  she  made  a  general  discharge  of  the 
whole  of  them,  with  the  exception  of  those  on  the  lower 
deck.  The  Plantagenets  waited  until  the  ship  rose  on  a  sea, 
and.  then  they  returned  the  compliment  in  the  same  manner. 
The  Carnatic's  side  showed  a  sheet  of  flame  immediately 
after ;  and  the  Achilles,  Lord  Morganic,  luffing  briskly  to 


340 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 


the  wind,  so  as  to  bring  her  guns  to  bear,  followed  up  the 
game,  like  flashes  of  lightning.  '  All  three  of  these  ships 
had  directed  their  fire  at  le  Foudroyant,  and  the  smoke  had 
not  yet  driven  from  among  her  spars,  when  Sir  Gervaise 
perceived  that  all  three  of  her  top-masts  were  hanging  to 
leeward.  At  this  sight,  Greenly  fairly  sprang  from  the 
deck,  and  gave  three  cheers.  The  men  below  caught  up 
the  cry,  even  to  those  who  were,  in  a  manner,  buried  on  the 
lower  deck,  and  presently,  spite  of  the  gale,  the  Carnatic's 
were  heard  following  their  example  astern.  At  this  instant 
the  whole  French  and  English  lines  opened  their  fire,  from 
van  to  rear,  as  far  as  their  guns  would  bear,  or  the  shot 
tell. 

"  Now,  sir,  now  is  our  time  to  close  with  de  Vervillin  !" 
exclaimed  Greenly,  the  instant  he  perceived  the  manner  in 
which  his  ship  was  crippled.  "  In  our  close  order  we  might 
hope  to  make  a  thorough  wreck  of  him." 

"  Not  so,  Greenly,"  returned  Sir  Gervaise  calmly.  "You 
see  he  edges  away  already,  and  will  be  down  among  his 
other  ships  in  five  minutes  ;  we  should  have  a  general 
action  with  twice  our  force.  What  is  done,  is  well  done, 
and  we  will  let  it  stand.  It  is  something  to  have  dismasted 
the  enemy's  commander-in-chief ;  do  you  look  to  it  that  the 
enemy  don't  do  the  same  with  ours.  I  heard  shot  rattling 
aloft,  and  every  thing  now  bears  a  hard  strain." 

Greenly  went  to  look  after  his  duty,  while  Sir  Gervaise 
continued  to  pace  the  poop.  The  whole  of  le  Foudroy- 
ant's  fire  had  been  directed  at  the  Plantagenet,  but  so 
rough  was  the  ocean  that  not  a  shot  touched  the  hull.  A 
little  injury  had  been  done  aloft,  but  nothing  that  the  ready 
skill  of  the  seamen  was  not  able  to  repair  even  in  that  rough 
weather.  The  fact  is,  most  of  the  shot  had  touched  the 
waves,  and  had  flown  off*  from  their  varying  surfaces  at 
every  angle  that  offered.  One  of  the  secrets  that  Sir  Ger 
vaise  had  taught  his  captains  was  to  avoid  hitting  the  sur 
face  of  the  sea,  if  possible,  unless  that  surface  was  reasona 
bly  smooth,  and  the  object  intended  to  be  injured  was  near 
at  hand.  Then  the  French  admiral  received  the  first  fire — 
always  the  most  destructive — of  three  fresh  vessels;  and -his 
injuries  were  in  proportion. 

The  scene  was  now  animated,  and  not  without  a  wild 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  341 

magnificence.  The  gale  continued  as  heavy  as  ever,  and 
with  the  raging  of  the  ocean  and  the  howling  of  the  winds, 
mingled  the  roar  of  artillery,  and  the  smoky  canopy  of  battle. 
Still  the  destruction  on  neither  side  bore  any  proportion  to 
the  grandeur  of  the  accompaniments  ;  the  distance  and  the 
unsteadiness  of  the  ships  preventing  much  accuracy  of  aim. 
In  that  day,  a  large  two-decked  ship  never  carried  heavier 
metal  than  an  eighteen  above  her  lower  batteries ;  and  this 
gun,  efficient  as  it  is  on  most  occasions,  does  not  bring  with 
it  the  fearful  destruction  that  attends  a  more  modern  broad 
side.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  noise,  notwithstanding,  and 
some  blood  shed  in  passing ;  but,  on  the  whole,  when  the 
Warspite,  the  last  of  the  English  ships,  ceased  her  fire,  on 
account  of  the  distance  of  the  enemy  abreast  of  her,  it  would 
have  been  difficult  to  tell  that  any  vessel  but  le  Foudroyant, 
had  been  doing  more  than  saluting.  At  this  instant  Green 
ly  re-appeared  on  the  poop,  his  own  ship  having  ceased  to 
fire  for  several  minutes. 

"  Well,  Greenly,  the  main-deck  guns  are  at  least  scaled," 
said  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling ;  "  and  that  is  not  to  be  done 
over  again  for  some  time.  You  keep  everything  ready  in 
the  batteries,  I  trust  ?" 

"  We  are  all  ready,  Sir  Gervaise,  but  there  is  nothing  to 
be  done.  It  would  be  useless  to  waste  our  ammunition  at 
ships  quite  two  miles  under  our  lee." 

"  Very  true — very  true,  sir.  But  all  the  Frenchmen  are 
not  quite  so  far  to  leeward,  Greenly,  as  you  may  see  by 
looking  ahead.  Yonder  two,  at  least,  are  not  absolutely  out 
of  harm's  way  !" 

Greenly  turned,  gazed  an  instant  in  the  direction  in  which 
the  commander-in-chief  pointed,  and  then  the  truth  of  what 
Sir  Gervaise  had  really  in  view  in  keeping  away,  flashed  on 
his  mind,  as  it  might  be,  at  a  glance.  Without  saying 
a  word,  he  immediately  quitted  the  poop,  and  descending 
even  to  the  lower  deck,  passed  through  the  whole  of  his 
batteries,  giving  his  orders,  and  examining  their  condition. 
29  * 


342  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER 

11  By  Heaven !  it  is  a  splendid  sight  to  see, 
(For  one  who  hath  no  friend,  no  brother  there,) 
Their  rival  scarfs  of  mixed  embroidery — 
Their  various  arms  that  glitter  in  the  air  !" 

Childe  Harold. 

THE  little  conflict  between  the  English  ships  and  the  head 
of  the  French  line,  the  evolutions  that  had  grown  out  of  it, 
the  crippling  of  le  Foudroyant,  and  the  continuance  of  the 
gale,  contributed  to  produce  material  changes  in  the  relative 
positions  of  the  two  fleets.  All  the  English  vessels  kept  their 
stations  with  beautiful  accuracy,  still  running  to  the  south 
ward  in  a  close  line  ahead,  having  the  wind  a  trifle  abaft 
the  beam,  with  their  yards  braced  in.  Under  the  circum 
stances,  it  needed  but  some  seven  or  eight  minutes  for  these 
ships  to  glide  a  mile  through  the  troubled  ocean,  and  this  was 
about  the  period  the  most  exposed  of  them  all  had  been 
under  the  random  and  slow  fire  that  the  state  of  the  weather 
permitted.  The  trifling  damages  sustained  were  already 
repaired,  or  in  a  way  soon  to  be  so.  On  the  other  hand, 
considerable  disorder  prevailed  among  the  French.  Their 
line  had  never  been  perfect,  extending  quite  a  league ;  a 
few  of  the  leading  vessels,  or  those  near  the  commander-in- 
chief,  sustaining  each  other  as  well  as  could  be  desired, 
while  long  intervals  existed  between  the  ships  astern. 
Among  the  latter,  too,  as  has  been  stated,  some  were  much 
farther  to  windward  than  the  others ;  an  irregularity  that 
proceeded  from  a  desire  of  the  comte  to  luff  up  as  near  as 
possible  to  the  enemy — a  desire,  which,  practised  on,  neces 
sarily  threw  the  least  weatherly  vessels  to  leeward.  Thus 
the  two  ships  in  the  extreme  rear,  as  has  been  hinted  at 
already,  being  jammed  up  unusually  hard  upon  the  wind, 
had  weathered  materially  on  their  consorts,  while  their  way 
through  the  water  had  been  proportionably  less.  It  was 
these  combined  o>cumstances  which  brought  them  so  far 
astern  and  to  windward. 

At  the  time  Sir  Gervaise  pointed  out  their  positions  to 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  343 

Greenly,  the  two  vessels  just  mentioned  were  quite  half  a 
mile  to  the  westward  of  their  nearest  consort,  and  more  than 
that  distance  to  the  southward.  When  it  is  remembered 
that  the  wind  was  nearly  due  west,  and  that  all  the  French 
vessels,  these  two  excepted,  were  steering  north,  the  rela 
tive  positions  of  the  latter  will  be  understood.  Le  Foudroy- 
ant,  too,  had  kept  away,  after  the  loss  of  her  top-masts, 
until  fairly  in  the  wake  of  the  ships  ahead  of  her,  in  her 
own  line,  and,  as  the  vessels  had  been  running  oft*  with  the 
wind  abeam,  for  several  minutes,  this  manoeuvre  threw  the 
French  still  farther  to  leeward.  To  make  the  matter  worse, 
just  as  the  Warspite  drew  out  of  the  range  of  shot  from  the 
French,  M.  de  Vervillin  showed  a  signal  at  the  end  of  his 
gaff,  for  his  whole  fleet  to  ware  in  succession ;  an  order, 
which,  while  it  certainly  had  a  gallant  semblance,  as  it  was 
bringing  his  vessels  round  on  the  same  tack  as  his  enemy, 
and  looked  like  a  defiance,  was  singularly  adapted  to  re 
storing  to  the  latter  all  the  advantage  of  the  wind  they  had 
lost  by  keeping  away.  As  it  was  necessary  to  take  room 
to  execute  this  evolution,  in  order  to  clear  the  ships  that 
were  now  crowded  in  the  van,  when  le  Temeraire  came  to 
the  wind  again  on  the  starboard  tack,  she  was  fully  half  a 
mile  to  leeward  of  the  admiral,  who  had  just  put  his  helm 
up.  As  a  matter  of  course,  in  order  to  form  anew,  with  the 
heads  of  the  ships  to  the  southward,  each  vessel  had  to  get 
into  her  leader's  wake,  which  would  be  virtually  throwing 
the  whole  French  line,  again,  two  miles  to  leeward  of  the 
English.  Nevertheless,  the  stragglers  in  the  rear  of  the 
French  continued  to  hug  the  wind,  with  a  pertinacity  that 
denoted  a  resolution  to  have  a  brush  with  their  enemies  in 
passing.  The  vessels  were  le  Scipion  and  la  Victoire,  each 
of  seventy-four  guns.  The  first  of  these  ships  was  com 
manded  by  a  young  man  of  very  little  professional  experi 
ence,  but  of  high  court  influence ;  while  the  second  had  a 
captain  who,  like  old  Parker,  had  worked  his  way  up  to  his 
present  station,  through  great  difficulties,  and  by  dint  of 
hard  knocks,  and  harder  work.  Unfortunately  the  first 
ranked,  and  the  humble  capitaine  de  frigate,  placed  by 
accident  in  command  of  a  ship  of  the  line,  did  not  dare  to 
desert  a  cap',taine  de  vaisseau,  who  had  a  due  for  an  elder 
brother,  and  called  himself  comte.  There  was  perhaps  a 


344  TUB     T\tO     ADMIRALS. 

redeeming  gallantry  in  the  spirit  which  determined  tho 
Comte  de  Chelincourt  to  incur  the  risk  of  passing  so  near 
six  vessels  with  only  two,  that  might  throw  a  veil  over  the 
indiscretion;  more  especially  as  his  own  fleet  was  near 
enough  to  support  him  in  the  event  of  any  disaster,  and  it 
was  certainly  possible  that  the  loss  of  a  material  spar  on 
board  either  of  his  foes,  might  induce  the  capture  of  the 
vessel.  At  all  events,  thus  reasoned  M.  de  Chelincourt; 
who  continued  boldly  on,  with  his  larboard  tacks  aboard, 
always  hugging  the  wind,  even  after  the  Temeraire  was 
round ;  and  M.  Comptant  chose  to  follow  him  in  la  Victoire. 
The  Plantagenet,  by  this  time,  being  not  a  mile  distant  from 
the  Scipio,  coming  on  with  steady  velocity,  these  intentions 
and  circumstances  created  every  human  probability  that  she 
would  soon  be  passing  her  weather  beam,  within  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  and,  consequently,  that  a  cannonade,  far  more 
serious  than  what  had  yet  occurred,  must  follow.  The  few 
intervening  minutes  gave  Sir  Gervaise  time  to  throw  a 
glance  around  him,  and  to  come  to  his  final  decision. 

The  English  fleet  was  never  in  better  line  than  at  that 
precise  moment.  The  ships  were  as  close  to  each  other  as 
comported  with  safety,  and  every  thing  stood  and  drew  as 
in  the  trade  winds.  The  leading  French  vessels  were  war 
ing  and  increasing  their  distance  to  leeward,  and  it  would 
require  an  hour  for  them  to  get  up  near  enough  to  be  at  all 
dangerous  in  such  weather,  while  all  the  rest  were  follow 
ing,  regardless  of  the  two  that  continued  their  luff.  The 
Chloe  had  already  got  round,  and,  hugging  the  wind,  was 
actually  coming  up  to  windward  of  her  own  line,  though 
under  a  press  of  canvass  that  nearly  buried  her.  The  Ac 
tive  and  Driver  wero  in  their  stations,  as  usual ;  one  on  the 
weather  beam,  and  the  other  on  the  weather  bow ;  while  the 
Druid  had  got  so  near  as  to  show  her  hull,  closing  fast, 
with  square  yards. 

"  That  is  either  a  very  bold,  or  a  very  obstinate  fellow , 
he,  who  commands  the  two  ships  ahead  of  us,"  observed 
Greenly,  as  he  stood  at  the  vice-admiral's  side,  and  just  as 
the  latter  terminated  his  survey.  "  What  object  can  he  pos 
sibly  have  in  braving  three  times  his  force  in  a  gale  like 
this?" 

"  If  it  were  an  Englishman,  Greenly,  we  should  call  him 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  345 

a  .iero !  By  taking  a  mast  out  of  one  of  us,  he  might  cause 
the  loss  of  the  ship,  or  compel  us  to  engage  double  our  force. 
Do  not  blame  him,  but  help  me,  rather,  to  disappoint  him. 
Now,  listen,  and  see  all  done  immediately." 

Sir  Gervaise  then  explained  to  the  captain  what  his  inten 
tions  really  were,  first  ordering,  himself,  (a  very  unusual 
course  for  one  of  his  habits,)  the  first  lieutenant,  to  keep  the 
ship  off  as  much  as  practicable,  without  seeming  to  wish  to 
do  so ;  but,  as  the  orders  will  be  explained  incidentally,  in 
the  course  of  the  narrative,  it  is  not  necessary  to  give  them 
here.  Greenly  then  went  below,  leaving  Sir  Gervaise, 
Bunting,  and  their  auxiliaries,  in  possession  of  the  poop.  A 
private  signal  had  been  bent  on  some  little  time,  and  it  was 
now  hoisted.  In  about  five  minutes  it  was  read,  understood, 
and  answered  by  all  the  ships  of  the  fleet.  Sir  Gervaise 
rubbed  his  hands  like  a  man  who  was  delighted,  and  he 
beckoned  to  Bury,  who  had  the  trumpet  on  the  quarter-deck, 
to  join  him  on  the  poop. 

"  Did  Captain  Greenly  let  you  into  our  plot,  Bury,"  asked 
the  vice-admiral,  in  high  good-humour,  as  soon  as  obeyed. 
"  I  saw  he  spoke  to  you  in  going  below  ?" 

"  He  only  told  me,  Sir  Gervaise,  to  edge  down  upon  the 
Frenchmen  as  close  as  I  could,  and  this  we  are  doing,  I 
think,  as  fast  as  mounsheer" — Bury  was  an  Anglo-Gallican 
— "  will  at  all  like." 

"  Ah  !  there  old  Parker  sheers  bravely  to  leeward  !  Trust 
to  him  to  be  in  the  right  place.  The  Carnatic  went  fifty 
fathoms  out  of  the  line  at  that  one  twist.  The  Thunderer 
and  Warspite  too !  Never  was  a  signal  more  beautifully 
obeyed.  If  the  Frenchmen  don't  take  the  alarm,  now,  every 
thing  will  be  to  our  minds." 

By  this  time,  Bury  began  to  understand  the  manoeuvre. 
Each  alternate  ship  of  the  English  was  sheering  fast  to  lee 
ward,  forming  a  weather  and  a  lee  line,  with  increased  in 
tervals  between  the  vessels,  while  all  of  them  were  edging 
rapidly  away,  so  as  greatly  to  near  the  enemy.  It  was  ap 
parent  now,  indeed,  that  the  Plantagenet  herself  must  pass 
within  a  hundred  fathoms  of  the  Scipio,  and  that  in  less 
than  two  minutes.  The  delay  in  issuing  the  orders  for  this 
evolution  was  in  favour  of  its  success,  inasmuch  as  it  did 
not  give  the  enemy  time  for  deliberation.  The  Comte  de 


346  THE     T\VO     ADMIRALS. 

Chelincourt,  in  fact,  did  not  detect  it ;  or,  at  least,  did  not 
foresee  the  consequences  ;  though  both  were  quite  apparent 
to  the  more  experienced  capitaine  de  frigate  astern.  It 
was  too  late,  or  the  latter  would  have  signalled  his  superior 
to  put  him  on  his  guard  ;  but,  as  things  were,  there  remain 
ed  no  alternative,  apparently,  but  to  run  the  gauntlet,  and 
trust  all  to  the  chances  of  battle. 

In  a  moment  like  that  we  are  describing,  events  occur 
much  more  rapidly  than  they  can  be  related.  The  Plan- 
tagenet  was  now  within  pistol-shot  of  le  Scipion,  and  on 
her  weather-bow.  At  that  precise  instant,  when  the  bow- 
guns,  on  both  sides,  began  to  play,  the  Carnatic,  then  nearly 
in  a  line  with  the  enemy,  made  a  rank  sheer  to  leeward,  and 
drove  on,  opening  in  the  very  act  with  her  weather-bow 
guns.  The  Thunderer  and  Warspite  imitated  this  manoeu- 
vre,  leaving  the  Frenchman  the  cheerless  prospect  of  being 
attacked  on  both  sides.  It  is  not  to  be  concealed  that  M. 
de  Chelincourt  was  considerably  disturbed  by  this  sudden 
change  in  his  situation.  That  which,  an  instant  before,  had 
the  prospect  of  being  a  chivalrous,  but  extremely  hazardous, 
passage  in  front  of  a  formidable  enemy,  now  began  to  as 
sume  the  appearance  of  something  very  like  destruction. 
It  was  too  late,  however,  to  remedy  the  evil,  and  the  young 
Comte,  as  brave  a  man  as  existed,  determined  to  face  it 
manfully.  He  had  scarcely  time  to  utter  a  few  cheering 
sentiments,  in  a  dramatic  manner,  to  those  on  the  quarter 
deck,  when  the  English  flag-ship  came  sweeping  past  in  a 
cloud  of  smoke,  and  a  blaze  of  fire.  His  own  broadside 
was  nobly  returned,  or  as  much  of  it  as  the  weather  per 
mitted,  but  the  smoke  of  both  discharges  was  still  driving 
between  his  masts,  when  the  dark  hamper  of  the  Carnatic 
glided  into  the  drifting  canopy,  which  was  made  to  whirl 
back  on  the  devoted  Frenchman  in  another  torrent  of  flame. 
Three  times  was  this  fearful  assault  renewed  on  the  Scipio, 
at  intervals  of  about  a  minute,  the  iron  hurricane  first  com 
ing  from  to  windward,  and  then  seeming  to  be  driven  back 
from  to  leeward,  as  by  its  own  rebound,  leaving  no  breath 
ing  time  to  meet  it.  The  effect  was  completely  to  silence 
her  own  fire  ;  for  what  between  the  power  of  the  raging  ele 
ments,  and  the  destruction  of  the  shot,  a  species  of  wild  and 
blood-fraught  confusion  took  the  place  of  system  and  order. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  347 

Her  decks  were  covered  with  killed  and  wounded,  among 
the  latter  o '  whom  was  the  Comte  de  Chelincourt,  while  or 
ders  were  given  and  countermanded  in  a  way  to  render  them 
useless,  if  not  incoherent.  From  the  time  when  the  Plan- 
tagenet  fired  her  first  gun,  to  that  when  the  Warspite  fired 
her  last,  was  just  five  minutes  by  the  watch.  It  seemed  an 
hour  to  the  French,  and  but  a  moment  to  their  enemies. 
One  hundred  and  eighty-two  men  and  boys  were  included 
in  the  casualties  of  those  teeming  moments  on  board  the 
Scipion  alone ;  and  when  that  ship  issued  slowly  from  the 
scene  of  havoc,  more  by  the  velocity  of  her  assailants  in 
passing  than  by  her  own,  the  foremast  was  all  that  stood, 
the  remainder  of  her  spars  dragging  under  her  lee.  To  cui 
the  last  adrift,  and  to  run  off  nearly  before  the  wind,  in  or 
der  to  save  the  spars  forward,  and  to  get  within  the  cover 
of  her  own  fleet,  was  all  that  could  now  be  done.  It  may 
as  well  be  said  here,  that  these  two  objects  were  effected. 

The  Plantagenet  had  received  damage  from  the  fire  of 
her  opponent.  Some  ten  or  fifteen  men  were  killed  and 
wounded ;  her  main-top-sail  was  split  by  a  shot,  from  clew 
to  earing ;  one  of  the  quarter-masters  was  carried  from  the 
poop,  literally  dragged  overboard  by  the  sinews  that  con 
nected  head  and  body;  and  several  of  the  spars,  with  a 
good  deal  of  rigging,  required  to  be  looked  to,  on  account 
of  injuries.  But  no  one  thought  of  these  things,  except  as 
they  were  connected  with  present  and  pressing  duties.  Sir 
Gervaise  got  a  sight  of  la  Victoire,  some  hundred  and 
twenty  fathoms  ahead,  just  as  the  roar  of  the  Carnatic's 
guns  was  rushing  upon  his  ears.  The  French  commander 
saw  and  understood  the  extreme  jeopardy  of  his  consort, 
and  he  had  already  put  his  helm  hard  up. 

"  Starboard  —  starboard  hard,  Bury!"  shouted  Sir  Ger 
vaise  from  the  poop.  "  Damn  him,  run  him  aboard,  if  he 
dare  hold  on  long  enough  to  meet  us." 

The  lieutenant  signed  with  his  hand  that  the  order  was 
understood,  and  the  helm  being  put  up,  the  ship  went  whirl 
ing  off  to  leeward  on  the  summit  of  a  hill  of  foam.  A  cheer 
was  heard  struggling  in  the  tempest,  and  glancing  over  his 
left  shoulder,  Sir  Gervaise  perceived  the  Carnatic  shooting 
out  of  the  smoke,  and  imitating  his  own  movement,  by 
making  another  and  still  ranker  sheer  to  leeward.  At  the 


348  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

same  moment  she  set  her  mainsail  close-reefed,  as  if  deter 
mined  to  outstrip  her  antagonist,  and  maintain  her  station. 
None  but  a  prime  seaman  could  have  done  such  a  thing  so 
steadily  and  so  well,  in  the  midst  of  the  wild  haste  and  con 
fusion  of  such  a  scene.  Sir  Gervaise,  now  not  a  hundred 
yards  from  the  Carnatic,  waved  high  his  hat  in  exultation 
and  praise ;  and  old  Parker,  alone  on  his  own  poop,  bared 
his  grey  hairs  in  acknowledgment  of  the  compliment.  All 
this  time  the  two  ships  drove  madly  ahead,  while  the  crash 
and  roar  of  the  battle  was  heard  astern. 

The  remaining  French  ship  was  well  and  nimbly  han 
dled.  As  she  came  round  she  unavoidably  sheered  towards 
her  enemies,  and  Sir  Gervaise  found  it  necessary  to  coun 
termand  his  last  order,  and  to  come  swiftly  up  to  the  wind, 
both  to  avoid  her  raking  broadside,  and  to  prevent  running 
into  his  own  consort.  But  the  Carnatic,  having  a  little 
more  room,  first  kept  off,  and  then  came  to  the  wind  again, 
as  soon  as  the  Frenchman  had  fired,  in  a  way  to  compel  him 
to  haul  up  on  the  other  tack,  or  to  fall  fairly  aboard.  Al 
most  at  the  same  instant,  the  Plantagenet  closed  on  his 
weather  quarter  and  raked.  Parker  had  got  abeam,  and 
pressing  nearer,  he  compelled  la  Victoire  to  haul  her  bow- 
linos,  bringing  her  completely  between  two  fires.  Spar  went 
after  spar,  and  being  left  with  nothing  standing  but  the  lower 
masts,  the  Plantagenet  and  Carnatic  could  not  prevent  them 
selves  from  passing  their  victim,  though  each  shortened  sail  ; 
the  first  being  already  without  a  topsail.  Their  places,  how 
ever,  were  immediately  supplied  by  the  Achilles  and  the 
Thunderer,  both  ships  having  hauled  down  their  staysails 
to  lessen  their  way.  As  the  Blenheim  and  Warspite  were 
quite  near  astern,  and  an  eighteen-pound  shot  had  closed 
the  earthly  career  of  the  poor  capitaine  defregate,  his  suc 
cessor  in  command  deemed  it  prudent  to  lower  his  ensign  ; 
after  a  resistance  that  in  its  duration  was  unequal  to  the 
promise  of  its  commencement.  Still  the  ship  had  suffered 
materially,  and  had  fifty  of  her  crew  among  the  casualties. 
Of  course,  this  submission  terminated  the  combat,  for  tho 
moment. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakos  had  now  leisure,  and,  as  the  smoke 
soon  cleared  before  the  gnlo,  opportunity,  to  look  about  him. 
Most  of  th6  Fr<  nch  ships  had  got  round  ;  but,  besides  being 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  349 

quite  as  far  astern,  when  they  should  get  up  abeam,  sup 
posing  himself  to  remain  where  he  was,  they  would  be  at 
very  long  gun-shot  dead  to  leeward.  To  remain  where  he 
was,  however,  formed  no  part  of  his  plan,  for  he  was  fully 
resolved  to  maintain  all  his  advantages.  The  great  difficulty 
was  to  take  possession,  of  his  prize,  the  sea  running  so  high 
as  to  render  it  questionable  if  a  boat  would  live.  Lord  Mor- 
ganic,  however,  was  just  of  an  age  and  a  temperament  to 
bring  that  question  to  a  speedy  issue.  Being  on  the  weather- 
beam  of  la  Victoire,  as  her  flag  came  down,  he  ordered  his 
own  first  lieutenant  into  the  larger  cutter,  and  putting  half-a- 
dozen  marines,  with  the  proper  crew,  into  the  boat,  it  was 
soon  seen  dangling  in  the  air  over  the  cauldron  of  the  ocean ; 
the  oars  on-end.  To  lower,  let  go,  and  unhook,  were  the 
acts  of  an  instant ;  the  oars  fell,  and  the  boat  was  swept 
away  to  leeward.  A  commander's  commission  depended  on 
his  success,  and  Daly  made  desperate  efforts  to  obtain  it. 
The  prize  offered  a  lee,  and  the  French,  with  a  national  be 
nevolence,  courtesy,  and  magnanimity,  that  would  scarcely 
have  been  imitated  had  matters  been  reversed,  threw  ropes 
to  their  conquerors,  to  help  to  rescue  them  from  a  very  awk 
ward  dilemma.  The  men  did  succeed  in  getting  into  the 
prize  ;  but  the  boat,  in  the  end,  was  stove  and  lost. 

The  appearance  of  the  red  flag  of  England,  the  symbol 
of  his  own  professional  rank,  and  worn  by  most  under  his 
own  orders,  over  the  white  ensign  of  France,  was  the  sign 
to  Sir  Gervaise  that  the  prize-officer  was  in  possession.  He 
immediately  made  the  signal  for  the  fleet  to  follow  the  mo 
tions  of  the  commander-in-chief.  By  this  time,  his  own 
mainsail,  close-reefed,  had  taken  the  place  of  the  torn  top 
sail,  and  the  Plantagenet  led  off  to  the  southward  again,  as 
if  nothing  unusual  had  occurred.  Daly  had  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  of  extreme  exertion  on  board  the  prize,  before  he  could 
get  her  fairly  in  motion  as  he  desired  ;  but,  by  dint  of  using 
the  axe  freely,  he  cut  the  wreck  adrift,  and  soon  had  la  Vic 
toire  liberated  from  that  incumbrance.  The  fore-sail  and 
fore  and  mizzen  staysails  were  on  the  ship,  and  the  mainsail, 
close-reefed  also,  was  about  to  be  set,  to  drag  her  from  the 
melee  of  her  foes,  when  her  ensign  came  down.  By  getting 
Ihe  tack  of  the  latter  aboard,  and  the  sheet  aft,  he  would  have 
all  the  canvass  set  the  gale  v/ould  allow,  and  to  this  all 
30 


350  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

essential  point  he  directed  his  wits.  To  ride  down  the  main- 
tack  of  a  two-decked  ship,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  or  what  fell 
little  short  of  a  real  gale,  was  not  to  be  undertaken  with 
twenty  men,  the  extent  of  Daly's  command ;  and  he  had 
recourse  to  the  assistance  of  his  enemies.  A  good-natured, 
facetious  Irishman,  himself,  with  a  smattering  of  French,  he 
soon  got  forty  or  fifty  of  the  prisoners  in  a  sufficient  humoui 
to  lend  their  aid,  and  the  sail  was  set,  though  not  without 
great  risk  of  its  splitting.  From  this  moment,  la  Victoire 
was  better  off,  as  respected  the  gale  and  keeping  a  weatherly 
position,  than  any  of  the  English  ships  ;  inasmuch  as  she 
could  carry  all  the  canvass  the  wind  permitted,  while  she 
was  relieved  from  the  drift  inseparable  from  much  hamper 
aloft.  The  effect,  indeed,  was  visible  in  the  first  hour,  to 
Daly's  great  delight  and  exultation.  At  the  end  of  that 
period,  he  found  himself  quite  a  cable's-length  to  windward 
of  the  line,  and  this  simply  because  he  had  not  made  the 
customary  set  to  leeward.  But  in  relating  this  last  particular, 
events  have  been  a  little  anticipated. 

Greenly,  who  had  gone  below  to  attend  to  the  batteries, 
which  were  not  worked  without  great  difficulty  in  so  heavy 
a  sea,  and  to  be  in  readiness  to  open  the  lower  ports  should 
occasion  offer,  reappeared  on  deck  just  as  the  commander, 
in-chief  showed  the  signal  for  the  ships  to  follow  his  own 
motions.  The  line  was  soon  formed,  as  mentioned,  and  ere 
long  it  became  apparent  that  the  prize  could  easily  keep  in 
her  station.  As  most  of  the  day  was  still  before  him,  Sir 
Gervaise  had  little  doubt  of  being  able  to  secure  the  latter, 
ere  night  should  come  to  render  it  indispensable. 

The  vice-admiral  and  his  captain  shook  hands  cordially 
on  the  poop,  and  the  former  pointed  out  to  the  latter,  with 
honest  exultation,  the  result  of  his  own  bold  manoeuvres. 

*'  We  've  clipped  the  wings  of  two  of  them,"  added  Sir 
Gervaise,  "  and  have  fairly  bagged  a  third,  my  good  friend  ; 
and,  God  willing,  when  Bluewater  joins,  there  will  not  be 
much  difficul'  y  with  the  remainder.  I  cannot  see  that  any 
of  our  vesseb  have  suffered  ;nu;!:,  and  I  set  them  all  down 
as  sound.  There's  been  time  for  a  signal  of  inability,  that 
curse  to  an  admiral's  evolution^  but  no  one  seems  disposed 
to  make  it.  If  we  really  escape  that  nuisance,  it  will  be  the 
first  instance  in  my  life  !' 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  351 

"  Half-a-dozen  yards  may  be  crippled,  and  no  one  the 
worse  for  it,  in  this  heavy  weather.  Were  we  under  a  press 
of  canvass,  it  would  be  a  different  matter  ;  but,  now,  so  long 
as  the  main  sticks  stand,  we  shall  probably  do  well  enough. 
I  can  find  no  injury  in  my  own  ship  that  may  not  be  reme 
died  at  sea." 

"  And  she  has  had  the  worst  of  it.  'T  was  a  decided 
thing,  Greenly,  to  engage  such  an  odds  in  a  gale ;  but  we 
owe  our  success,  most  probably,  to  the  audacity  of  the 
attack.  Had  the  enemy  believed  it  possible,  it  is  probable 
he  would  have  frustrated  it.  Well,  Master  Galleygo,  I  'm 
glad  to  see  you  unhurt !  What  is  your  pleasure  ?" 

"  Why,  Sir  Jarvy,  I  've  two  opportunities,  as  a  body 
might  say>  on  the  poop,  just  now.  One  is  to  shake  hands, 
as  we  always  does  a'ter  a  brush,  you  knows,  sir,  and  to  look 
a'tei  each  other's  health  ;  arid  the  other  is  to  report  a  mis- 
fortin  that  will  bear  hard  on  this  day's  dinner.  You  see, 
Sir  Jarvy,  I  had  the  dead  poultry  slung  in  a  net,  over  the 
live  stock,  to  be  out  of  harm's  way  ;  well,  sir,  a  shot  cut  the 
lanyard,  and  let  all  the  chickens  down  by  the  run,  in  among 
the  gun-room  grunters ;  and  as  they  never  half  feeds  them 
hanimals,  there  isn't  as  much  left  of  the  birds  as  would 
make  a  meal  for  a  sick  young  gentleman.  To  my  notion, 
no  one  ought  to  have  live  stock  but  the  commanders-in- 
chief." 

"  To  the  devil  with  you  and  the  stock  !  Give  me  a  shake 
of  the  hand,  and  back  into  your  top — how  came  you,  sir,  to 
quit  your  quarters  without  leave  ?" 

"  I  didn't,  Sir  Jarvy.  Seeing  how  things  was  a  going 
on,  among  the  pigs,  for  our  top  hoverlooks  the  awful  scene, 
I  axed  the  young  gentleman  to  let  me  come  down  to  con 
dole  with  your  honour ;  and  as  they  always  lets  me  do  a« 
I  axes,  in  such  matters,  why  down  I  come.  We  has  had 
one  rattler  in  at  our  top,  howsever,  that  came  nigh  to  clear 
us  all  out  on  it !" 

"  Is  any  spar  injured  ?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  quickly. 
"  This  must  be  looked  to  —  hey  !  Greenly  ?" 

"Not  to  signify,  your  honour;  not  to  signify.  One  of 
them  French  eighteens  aboard  the  prize  just  cocked  its  nose 
up,  as  the  ship  lurched,  and  let  fly  a  round  'un  and  a  grist 
of  grape,  right  into  our  faces.  I  see'd  it  coming  and  sung 


352  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

out  '  scaldings  ;'  and  't  was  well  I  did.  We  all  ducked  in 
time,  and  the  round  'un  cleared  everything,  but  a  handful 
of  the  marbles  are  planted  in  the  head  of  the  mast,  making 
the  spar  look  like  a  plum-pudding,  or  a  fellow  with  the 
small-pox." 

"  Enough  of  this.  You  are  excused  from  returning  to 
the  top; — and,  Greenly,  beat  the  retreat.  Bunting,  show 
the  signal  for  the  retreat  from  quirters.  Let  the  ships  pipe 
to  breakfast,  if  they  will." 

This  order  affords  a  fair  picture  of  the  strange  admixture 
of  feelings  and  employments  that  characterize  the  ordinary 
life  of  a  ship.  At  one  moment,  its  inmates  find  themselves 
engaged  in  scenes  of  wild  magnificence  and  fierce  confusion, 
while  at  the  next  they  revert  to  the  most  familiar  duties  of 
humanity.  The  crews  of  the  whole  fleet  now  retired  from 
the  guns,  and  immediately  after  they  were  seated  around 
their  kids,  indulging  ravenously  in  the  food  for  which  the 
exercise  of  the  morning  had  given  keen  appetites.  Still 
there  was  something  of  the  sternness  of  battle  in  the  merri 
ment  of  this  meal,  and  the  few  jokes  that  passed  were  sea 
soned  with  a  bitterness  that  is  not  usual  among  the  light- 
hearted  followers  of  the  sea.  Here  and  there,  a  mess-mato 
was  missed,  and  the  vacancy  produced  some  quaint  and 
even  pathetic  allusion  to  his  habits,  or  to  the  manner  in 
which  he  met  his  death  ;  seamen  usually  treating  the  ravages 
of  this  great  enemy  of  the  race,  after  the  blow  has  been 
struck,  with  as  much  solemnity  and  even  tenderness,  as 
they  regard  his  approaches  with  levity.  It  is  when  spared 
themselves,  that  they  most  regard  the  destruction  of  battle 
A  man's  standing  in  a  ship,  too,  carries  great  weight  with 
it,  at  such  times ;  the  loss  of  the  quarter-master,  in  particu 
lar,  being  much  regretted  in  the  Plantagenet.  This  man 
messed  with  a  portion  of  the  petty  officers,  a  set  of  men 
altogether  more  thoughtful  and  grave  than  the  body  of  the 
crew ;  and  who  met,  when  they  assembled  around  their 
mess-chest,  that  morning,  with  a  sobriety  and  even  stern 
ness  of  mien,  that  showed  how  much  in  the  management 
of  the  vessel  had  depended  on  their  individual  exertions. 
Several  minutes  elapsed  in  the  particular  mess  of  the  dead 
man,  before  a  word  was  spoken;  all  eating  with  appetites 
that  were  of  proof,  buf  no  one  breaking  the  silence.  At 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  353 

ength  an  old  quarter-gunner,  named  Tom  Sponge,  who 
generally  led  the  discourse,  said  in  a  sort  of  half-inquiring, 
half-regretting,  way  — 

"  I  suppose  there 's  no  great  use  in  asking  why  Jack 
Glass's  spoon  is  idle,  this  morning.  They  says,  them  fore 
castle  chaps,  that  they  see'd  his  body  streaming  out  over 
the  starboard  quarter,  as  if  it  had  been  the  fly  of  one  of  his 
own  ensigns.  How  was  it,  Ned  ?  you  was  thereaway,  and 
ought  to  know  all  about  it." 

"  To  be  sure  I  does,"  said  Ned,  who  was  Bunting's  re- 
maining  assistant.  "  I  was  there,  as  you  says,  and  see'd  as 
much  of  it  as  a  man  can  see  of  what  passes  between  a  poor 
fellow  and  a  shot,  when  they  comes  together,  and  that  not 
in  a  very  loving  manner.  It  happened  just  as  we  come  up 
on  the  weather  beam  of  that  first  chap — him  as  we  winged 
so  handsomely  among  us.  Well,  Sir  Jarvy  had  clapped  a 
stopper  on  the  signals,  seeing  as  we  had  got  fairly  into  the 
smoke,  and  Jack  and  I  was  a  looking  about  us  for  the  mus 
kets,  not  knowing  but  a  chance  might  turn  up  to  chuck  a 
little  lead  into  some  of  the  parly- woos ;  and  so  says  Jack, 
says  he,  *  Ned,  you  's  got  my  musket ;  —  (as  I  had,  sure 
enough)  —  and  says  he,  *  Ned,  you  's  got  my  musket ;  but 
no  matter  arter  all,  as  they  're  much  of  a  muchness.'  So 
when  he  'd  said  this,  he  lets  fly ;  but  whether  he  hit  any 
body,  is  more  than  I  can  say.  If  he  did,  'twas  likely  a 
Frenchman,  as  he  shot  that-a-way.  '  Now,'  says  Jack,  says 
he,  *  Ned,  as  this  is  your  musket,  you  can  load  it,  and  hand 

over  mine,  and  I  '11  sheet  home  another  of  the  b s.  Well, 

at  that  moment  the  Frenchman  lifted  for'ard,  on  a  heavy 
swell,  and  let  drive  at  us,  with  all  his  forecastle  guns,  fired 
as  it  might  be  with  one  priming — " 

"  That  was  bad  gunnery,"  growled  Tom  Sponge,  "  as  it 
racks  a  ship  woundily." 

"  Yes,  they'se  no  judgment  in  ships  in  general.  Well, 
them  French  twelves  are  spiteful  guns ;  and  a  little  afore 
they  fired,  it  seemed  to  me  I  heard  something  give  Jack  a 
rap  on  the  cheek,  that  sounded  as  if  a  fellow's  car  was  boxed 
with  a  clap  of  thunder.  I  looked  up,  and  there  was  Jack 
streaming  out  like  the  fly  of  the  ensign,  head  foremost,  with 
the  body  towing  after  it  by  strings  in  the  neck." 

"  I  thought  when  a  fellow's  head  was  shot  ofF,"  put  in 
30  * 


354  THE     1WO     ADMIRALS. 

another  quarter-master  named  Ben  Barrel,  "  that  the  body 
was  left  in  the  ship  while  only  the  truck  went !" 

"That  comes  of  not  seeing  them  things,  Ben,"  rejoined 
the  eye-witness.  "  A  fellow's  head  is  stayed  in  its  berth 
just  like  a  ship's  mast.  There's  for'ard  and  back-stays, 
and  shrouds,  all's  one  as  aboard  here;  the  only  difference 
is  that  the  lanyards  are  a  little  looser,  so  as  to  give  a  man 
more  play  for  his  head,  than  it  might  be  safe  to  give  to  a 
mast.  When  a  fellow  makes  a  bow,  why  he  only  comes 
up  a  little  aft,  and  bowses  on  the  fore-stay,  and  now  and 
then  you  falls  in  with  a  chap  that  is  stayed  altogether  too 
far  for'ard,  or  who 's  got  a  list  perhaps  from  having  the 
shrouds  set  up  too  taut  to  port,  or  to  starboard." 

"  That  sounds  reasonable,"  put  in  the  quarter-gunner, 
gravely  ;  "  I  've  seen  such  droggers  myself." 

"  If  you  M  been  on  the  poop  an  hour  or  too  ago,  you  M 
ha'  seen  more  on  it !  Now,  there's  all  our  marines,  their 
back-stays  have  had  a  fresh  pull  since  they  were  launched, 
and,  as  for  their  captain,  I  '11  warrant  you,  he  had  a  luff 
upon  luff!" 

"  I  've  heard  the  carpenter  overhauling  them  matters," 
remarked  Sam  Wad,  another  quarter-gunner,  "  and  he 
chalked  it  all  out  by  the  square  and  compass.  It  seems 
reasonable,  too." 

"  If  you  M  seen  Jack's  head  dragging  his  body  overboard 
just  like  the  Frenchman  dragging  his  wreck  under  his  lee, 
you'd  ha'  thought  it  reasonable.  What's  a  fellow's  shoul 
ders  for,  but  to  give  a  spread  to  his  shrouds,  which  lead 
down  the  neck  and  are  set  up  under  the  arms  somewhere. 
They  says  a  great  deal  about  the  heart,  and  I  reckons  it  '3 
likely  everything  is  key'd  there." 

"  ITearkee,  Ned,"  observed  a  quarter-master,  who  knew 
little  more  than  the  mess  generally,  "  if  what  you  say  is 
true,  why  don't  these  shrouds  lead  straight  from  the  head  to 
the  shoulders,  instead  of  being  all  tucked  up  under  a  skin 
in  the  neck  ?  Answer  me  that,  now." 

"  Who  the  devil  ever  saw  a  ship's  shrouds  that  wasn't 
cat-harpened  in  !"  exclaimed  Ned,  with  some  heat.  "  A 
pretty  hand  a  wife  would  make  of  it,  in  putting  her  arms 
around  a  follow's  neck  if  the  rigging  spread  in  the  way  you 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  355 

mean !     Them  things  is  all  settled  accordin'  to  reason  when 
a  chap's  keel 's  laid." 

This  last  argument  seemed  to  dispose  of  the  matter,  the 
discourse  gradually  turning  on,  and  confining  itself  to  the 
merits  of  the  deceased. 

Sir  Gervaise  had  directed  Galleygo  to  prepare  his  break- 
fast  as  soon  as  the  people  were  piped  to  their  own ;  but  he 
was  still  detained  on  deck  in  consequence  of  a  movement  in 
one  of  his  vessels,  to  which  it  has  now  become  necessary 
more  particularly  to  recur. 

The  appearance  of  the  Druid  to  the  northward,  early  in 
the  morning,  will  doubtless  be  remembered  by  the  reader. 
When  near  enough  to  have  it  made  out,  this  frigate  had 
shown  her  number;  after  which  she  rested  satisfied  with 
carrying  sail  much  harder  than  any  vessel  in  sight.  When 
the  fleets  engaged,  she  made  an  effort  to  set  the  fore-top-sail, 
close-reefed,  but  several  of  the  critics  in  the  other  ships, 
who  occasionally  noticed  her  movements,  fancied  that  some 
accident  must  have  befallen  her,  as  the  canvass  was  soon 
taken  in,  and  she  appeared  disposed  to  remain  content  with 
the  sail  carried  when  first  seen.  As  this  ship  was  materi 
ally  to  windward  of  the  line,  and  she  was  running  the  whole 
time  a  little  free,  her  velocity  was  much  greater  than  that 
of  the  other  vessels,  and  by  this  time  she  had  got  so  near 
that  Sir  Gervaise  observed  she  was  fairly  abeam  of  the 
Plantagenet,  and  a  little  to  leeward  of  the  Active.  Of  course 
her  hull,  even  to  the  bottom,  as  she  rose  on  a  sea,  was 
plainly  visible,  and  such  of  her  people  as  were  in  the  tops 
and  rigging  could  be  easily  distinguished  by  the  naked  eye. 

"  The  Druid  must  have  some  communication  for  us  from 
the  other  division  of  the  fleet,"  observed  the  vice-admiral  to 
his  signal-officer,  as  they  stood  watching  the  movements  c-f 
the  frigate  ;  "  it  is  a  little  extraordinary  Blewet  does  not  sig 
nal !  Look  at  the  book,  and  find  me  a  question  to  put  that 
will  ask  his  errand?" 

Bunting  was  in  the  act  of  turning  over  the  leaves  of  his 
little  vocabulary  of  questions  and  answers,  when  three  or 
four  dark  balls,  that  Sir  Gervaise,  by  the  aid  of  the  glass, 
saw  suspended  between  the  frigate's  masts,  opened  into  fla^s, 
effectually  proving-  that  Blewet  was  not  absolutely  asleep. 

"Four  hundred  and  sixteen,  ordinary  communicatior." 


356  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

observed  the  vice-admiral,  with  his  eye  still  at  the  glass. 
"  Look  up  that,  Bunting,  and  let  us  know  what  it  means." 

"  The  commander-in-chief —  wish  to  speak  him  !"  read 
Bunting,  in  the  customary  formal  manner  in  which  he  an 
nounced  the  purport  of  a  signal. 

"  Very  well — answer ;  then  make  the  Druid's  numbei 
to  come  within  hail !  The  fellow  has  got  cloth  enough  spread 
to  travel  two  feet  to  our  one ;  let  him  edge  away  and  come 
under  our  lee.  Speaking  will  be  rather  close  work  to-day.' 

"  I  doubt  if  a  ship  can  come  near  enough  to  make  her 
self  heard,"  returned  the  other,  "  though  the  second  lieuten 
ant  of  that  ship  never  uses  a  trumpet  in  the  heaviest  wea 
ther,  they  tell  me,  sir.  Our  gents  say  his  father  was  a 
town-crier,  and  that  he  has  inherited  the  family  estate." 

"  Ay,  our  gents  are  a  set  of  saucy  fellows,  as  is  usually 
the  case  when  there  isn't  work  enough  aboard." 

"  You  should  make  a  little  allowance,  Sir  Gervaise,  for 
being  in  the  ship  of  a  successful  commander-in-chief.  That 
makes  us  all  carry  weather-helms  among  the  other  messes." 

"  Up  with  your  signal,  sir;  up  with  your  signal.  I  shall 
be  obliged  to  order  Greenly  to  put  you  upon  watch-and- 
watch  for  a  month,  in  order  to  bring  you  down  to  the  old 
level  of  manners." 

"  Signal  answered,  already,  Sir  Gervaise.  By  the  way, 
sir,  I  '11  thank  you  to  request  Captain  Greenly  to  give  me 
another  quarter-master.  It's  nimble  work  for  us,  when 
there  is  anything  serious  to  do." 

"  You  shall  have  him,  Bunting,"  returned  the  vice-admi 
ral,  a  shade  passing  over  his  face  for  the  moment. 

"  I  had  missed  poor  Jack  Glass,  and  from  seeing  a  spot 
of  blood  on  the  poop,  guessed  his  fate.  I  fancied,  indeed,  I 
heard  a  shot  strike  something  behind  me." 

"  It  struck  the  poor  fellow's  head,  sir,  and  made  a  noise 
as  if  a  butcher  were  felling  an  ox." 

"  Well — well — let  us  try  to  forget  it,  until  something  can 
be  done  for  his  son,  who  is  one  of  the  side  boys.  Ah  ! 
nere 's  Blewet  keeping  away  in  earnest.  How  the  deuce  he 
is  to  speak  us,  howe\er,  is  more  than  I  can  tell." 

Sir  Gervaise  now  sent  a  message  to  his  captain  to  say 
that  he  desired  his  presence.  Greenly  soon  appeared,  and 
was  made  acquainted  with  the  intention  of  the  Druid,  as 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  357 

well  as  with  the  purport  of  the  last  signals.  By  this  time, 
the  rent  main-top-sail  was  mended,  and  the  captain  suggested 
it  should  be  set  again,  close-reefed,  as  before,  and  that  the 
mainsail  should  be  taken  in.  This  would  lessen  the  Planta- 
genet's  way,  which  ship  was  sensibly  drawing  ahead  of  her 
consorts.  Sir  Gervaise  assenting,  the  change  was  made, 
and  the  effects  were  soon  apparent,  not  only  in  the  move 
ment  of  the  ship,  but  in  her  greater  ease  and  steadiness  of 
motion. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  Druid  was  within  a  hundred 
fathoms  of  the  flag-ship,  on  her  weather-quarter,  shoving 
the  brine  before  her  in  a  way  to  denote  a  fearful  momentum. 
It  was  evidently  the  intention  of  Captain  Blewet  to  cross  the 
Plantagenet's  stern,  and  to  luff  up  under  her  lee-quarter  ;  the 
safest  point  at  which  he  could  approach,  in  so  heavy  a  swell, 
provided  it  were  done  with  discretion.  Captain  Blewet  had 
a  reputation  for  handling  his  frigate  like  a  boat,  and  the  oc 
casion  was  one  which  would  be  likely  to  awaken  all  his 
desire  to  sustain  the  character  lie  had  already  earned.  Still 
no  one  could  imagine  how  he  was  to  come  near  enough  to 
make  a  communication  of  any  length.  The  stentorian  lungs 
of  the  second  lieutenant,  however,  might  effect  it ;  and,  as 
the  news  of  the  expected  hail  passed  through  the  ship,  many 
who  had  remained  below,  in  apathy,  while  the  enemy  was 
close  under  their  lee,  came  on  deck,  curious  to  witness  what 
was  about  to  pass. 

"  Hey !  Atwood  1"  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  for  the  little 
excitement  had  brought  the  secretary  up  from  the  com- 
mander-in-chief 's  cabin  ; — "  what  is  Blewet  at  ?  The  fellow 
cannot  mean  to  set  a  studding-sail !" 

"  He  is  running  out  a  boom,  nevertheless,  Sir  Gervaise, 
or  my  thirty  years'  experience  of  nautical  things  have  been 
thrown  away." 

"  He  is  truly  rigging  out  his  weather  fore-topmast-stud 
ding-sail. boom,  sir!"  added  Greenly,  in  a  tone  of  wonder. 

"  It  is  out,"  rejoined  the  vice-admiral,  as  one  would  give 
emphasis  to  the  report  of  a  calamity.  "Hey  ! — what?    Isn't 
that  a  man  they're  running  up  to  the  end  of  it,  Bunting 
Level  your  glass,  and  let  us  know  at  once." 

"  A  glass  is  not  necessary  to  make  out  that  much,  Sir 


358  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

Gervaise.  It  is  a  man,  beyond  a  doubt,  and  there  he  hangs 
at  the  boom-end,  as  if  sentenced  by  a  general  court-murtiaL" 
Sir  Gervaise  now  suppressed  every  expression  of  surprise, 
and  his  reserve  was  imitated,  quite  as  a  matter  of  course,  by 
the  twenty  officers,  who,  by  this  time,  had  assembled  on  the 
poop.  The  Druid,  keeping  away,  approached  rapidly,  and 
had  soon  crossed  the  flag-ship's  wake.  Here  she  came  by 
the  wind,  and  favoured  by  the  momentum  with  which  she 
had  come  down,  and  the  addition  of  the  mainsail,  drew 
heavily  but  steadily  up  on  her  lee-quarter.  Both  vessels 
being  close-hauled,  it  was  not  difficult  steering;  and  by 
watching  the  helms  closely,  it  would  have  been  possible, 
perhaps,  notwithstanding  the  heavy  sea,  to  have  brought  the 
two  hulls  within  ten  yards  of  each  other,  and  no  harm  should 
come  of  it.  This  was  nearer,  however,  than  it  was  neces 
sary  to  approach ;  the  studding-sail-boom,  with  the  man 
suspended  on  the  end  of  it,  projecting  twice  that  distance 
beyond  the  vessel's  bows.  Still  it  was  nice  work ;  and 
while  yet  some  thirty  or  forty  feet  from  the  perpendicular, 
the  man  on  the  boom-end  made  a  sign  for  attention,  swung 
a  coil  of  line  he  held,  and  when  he  saw  hands  raised  to 
catch  it,  he  made  a  cast.  A  lieutenant  caught  the  rope,  and 
instantly  hauled  in  the  slack.  As  the  object  was  now  under 
stood,  a  dozen  others  laid  hold  of  the  line,  and,  at  a  common 
signal,  when  those  on  board  the  Plantagenet  hauled  in 
strongly,  the  people  of  the  Druid  lowered  away.  By  this 
simple,  but  united  movement,  the  man  descended  obliquely, 
leaping  out  of  the  bowline  in  which  he  had  sat,  and  casting 
the  whip  adrift.  Shaking  himself  to  gain  his  footing,  he 
raised  his  cap  and  bowed  to  Sir  Gervaise,  who  now  saw 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  on  his  poop. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  359 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

w  Yet  weep  not  thou — the  struggle  is  not  o'er, 
O  victors  of  Philippi !  many  a  field 
Hath  yielded  palms  to  us  : — one  effort  more, 
By  one  stern  conflict  must  our  fate  be  sealed." 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

As  soon  as  the  people  of  the  Piantagenet,  who  had  so  far 
trespassed  on  discipline,  when  they  perceived  a  man  hang 
ing  at  the  end  of  the  studding-sail-boom,  as  to  appear  in  the 
rigging,  on  the  booms,  and  on  the  guns,  to  watch  the  result, 
saw  the  stranger  safely  landed  on  the  poop,  they  lifted  their 
hats  and  caps,  and,  as  one  voice,  greeted  him  with  three 
cheers.  The  officers  smiled  at  this  outbreak  of  feeling,  and 
the  violation  of  usage  was  forgotten ;  the  rigid  discipline  of 
a  man-of-war  even,  giving  way  occasionally  to  the  sudden 
impulses  of  natural  feeling. 

As  the  Druid  approached  the  flag-ship,  Captain  Blewet 
had  appeared  in  her  weather  mizzen-rigging,  conning  his 
vessel  in  person  ;  and  the  order  to  luff,  or  keep  off,  had  been 
given  by  his  own  voice,  or  by  a  gesture  of  his  own  hand. 
As  soon  as  he  saw  Wycherly's  feet  on  the  poop  of  the  Pian 
tagenet,  and  his  active  form  freed  from  the  double-bowline, 
in  which  it  had  been  seated,  the  captain  made  a  wide  sweep 
of  the  arm,  to  denote  his  desire  to  edge  away ;  the  helm  of 
the  frigate  was  borne  up  hard,  and,  as  the  two-decker  surged 
ahead  on  the  bosom  of  a  sea,  the  Druid's  bows  were  knocked 
off  to  leeward,  leaving  a  space  of  about  a  hundred  feet, 
or  more,  between  the  two  ships,  as  it  might  be,  in  an  instant. 
The  same  causes  continuing  to  operate,  the  Piantagenet 
drove  still  farther  ahead,  while  the  frigate  soon  came  lo  the 
wind  again,  a  cable's-length  to  leeward,  and  abreast  of  the 
space  between  the  admiral  and  his  second,  astern.  Here, 
Captain  Blewet  seemed  disposed  to  wait  for  further  orders. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  not  accustomed  to  betray  any 
surprise  he  might  feel  at  little  events  that  occurred  on  duty. 
He  returned  the  bow  of  Wycherly,  coolly,  and  then,  with 
out  question  or  play  of  feature,  turned  his  eyes  or  the  fur- 


360  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ther  movements  of  the  Druid.  Satisfied  that  all  was  right 
with  the  frigate,  he  directed  the  messenger  to  follow  him,  and 
went  below  himself,  leaving  Wycherly  to  obey  as  fast  as 
the  many  inquiries  he  had  to  answer  as  he  descended  the 
ladders  would  allow.  Atwood,  an  interested  observer  of  what 
had  passed,  noted  that  Captain  Greenly,  of  all  present,  was 
the  only  person  who  seemed  indifferent  to  the  nature  of  the 
communication  the  stranger  might  bring,  though  perhaps 
the  only  one  entitled  by  rank  to  put  an  interrogatory. 

"  You  have  come  aboard  of  us  in  a  novel  and  extraordi 
nary  mode,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe !"  observed  the 
vice-admiral,  a  little  severely,  as  soon  as  he  found  himself 
in  his  own  cabin,  alone  with  the  lieutenant. 

"  It  was  the  plan  of  Captain  Blewet,  sir,  and  was  really 
the  only  one  that  seemed  likely  to  succeed,  for  a  boat  could 
scarcely  live.  I  trust  the  success  of  the  experiment,  and 
the  nature  of  the  communications  I  may  bring,  will  be 
thought  sufficient  excuses  for  the  want  of  ceremony." 

"  It  is  the  first  time,  since  the  days  of  the  Conqueror,  I 
fancy,  that  an  English  vice-admiral's  ship  has  been  boarded 
so  cavalierly;  but,  as  you  say,  the  circumstances  may  jus 
tify  the  innovation.  What  is  your  errand,  sir  ?" 

"  This  letter,  I  presume,  Sir  Gervaise,  will  explain  itself. 
I  have  little  to  say  in  addition,  except  to  report  that  the 
Druid  has  sprung  her  foremast  in  carrying  sail  to  close  with 
you,  and  that  we  have  not  lost  a  moment  since  Admiral 
Bluewater  ordered  us  to  part  company  with  himself." 

"  You  sailed  on  board  the  Caesar,  then  ?"  asked  Sir  Ger 
vaise,  a  great  deal  mollified  by  the  zeal  for  service  in  a 
youth,  situated  ashore,  as  he  knew  Wycherly  to  be.  "  You 
left  her,  with  this  letter  ?" 

"  I  did,  Sir  Gervaise,  at  Admiral  Bluewater's  command." 

"  Did  you  go  aboard  the  Druid  boom-fashion,  or  was  that 
peculiar  style  reserved  for  the  commander-in-chief  ?" 

"  I  left  the  Caesar  in  a  boat,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  and  though  we 
were  much  nearer  in  with  the  coast,  where  the  wind  has  not 
the  rake  it  has  here,  and  the  strength  of  the  gale  had  not 
then  come,  we  were  nearly  swamped.'* 

"  If  a  true  Virginian,  you  would  not  have  drowned, 
Wychecombe,"  answered  the  vice-admiral,  in  better  humour. 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  361 

«  You  Americans  swim  like  cork.     Excuse  me,  while  I  read 
what  Admiral  Bluewater  has  to  say." 

Sir  Gervaise  had  received  Wycherly  in  the  great  cabin, 
standing  at  the  table  which  was  lashed  in  its  centre.  He 
would  have  been  puzzled  himself,  perhaps,  to  have  given 
the  real  reason  why  he  motioned  to  the  young  man  to  take 
a  chair,  while  he  went  into  what  he  called  his  "  drawing- 
room;"  or  the  beautiful  little  apartment  between  the  two 
state-rooms,  aft,  which  was  fitted  with  an  elegance  that 
might  have  been  admired  in  a  more  permanent  dwelling, 
and  whither  he  always  withdrew  when  disposed  to  reflection. 
It  was  probably  connected,  however,  with  a  latent  appre 
hension  of  the  rear-admiral's  political  bias,  for,  when  by 
himself,  he  paused  fully  a  minute  before  he  opened  the  let 
ter.  Condemning  this  hesitation  as  unmanly,  he  broke  the 
seal,  however,  and  read  the  contents  of  a  letter,  which  was 
couched  in  the  following  terms : 

"  My  dear  Oakes : — Since  we  parted,  my  mind  has  un 
dergone  some  violent  misgivings  as  to  the  course  duty  re 
quires  of  me,  in  this  great  crisis.  One  hand — one  heart — 
one  voice  even,  may  decide  the  fate  of  England !  In  such 
circumstances,  all  should  listen  to  the  voice  of  conscience, 
and  endeavour  to  foresee  the  consequences  of  their  own  acts. 
Confidential  agents  are  in  the  west  of  England,  and  one  of 
them  I  have  seen.  By  his  communications  I  find  more  de 
pends  on  myself  than  I  couid  have  imagined,  and  more  on 
the  movements  of  M.  de  Vervillin.  Do  not  be  too  sanguine 
— take  time  for  your  own  decisions,  and  grant  me  time  ;  for 
I  feel  like  a  wretch  whose  fate  must  soon  be  sealed.  On  no 
account  engage,  because  you  think  this  division  near  enough 
to  sustain  you,  but  at  least  keep  off  until  you  hear  from  me 
more  positively,  or  we  can  meet.  I  find  it  equally  hard  to 
strike  a  blow  against  my  rightful  prince,  or  to  desert  my 
friend.  For  God's  sake  act  prudently,  and  depend  on  see 
ing  rne  in  the  course  of  the  next  twenty-four  hours.  I  shall 
keep  well  to  the  eastward,  in  the  hope  of  falling  in  with  you, 
as  I  feel  satisfied  de  Vervillin  has  nothing  to  do  very  far 
west.  I  may  send  some  verbal  message  by  the  bearer,  for 
my  thoughts  come  sluggishly,  and  with  great  reluctance. 
"  Ever  yours,  RICHARD  BLUEWATER." 

31 


362  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  read  this  letter  twice  with  great  de 
liberation;  then  he  crushed  it  in  his  hand,  as  one  woi-1'' 
strangle  a  deadly  serpent.  Not  satisfied  with  this  maniiest- 
ation  of  distaste,  he  tore  the  letter  into  pieces  so  small  as  to 
render  it  impossible  to  imagine  its  contents,  opened  a  cabin- 
window,  and  threw  the  fragments  into  the  ocean.  When 
he  fancied  that  every  sign  of  his  friend's  weakness  had  thus 
been  destroyed,  he  began  to  pace  the  cabin  in  his  usual  man 
ner.  Wycherly  heard  his  step,  and  wondered  at  the  delay  ; 
but  his  duty  compelled  him  to  pass  an  uncomfortable  half- 
hour  in  silence,  ere  the  door  opened,  and  Sir  Gervaise  ap 
peared.  The  latter  had  suppressed  the  signs  of  distress, 
though  the  lieutenant  could  perceive  he  was  unusually  anx- 
;ous. 

"  Did  the  rear-admiral  send  any  message,  Sir  Wycher 
ly  ?"  inquired  Sir  Gervaise ;  "in  his  letter  he  would  seem 
to  refer  me  to  some  verbal  explanations  from  yourself." 

"  I  am  ashamed  to  say,  sir,  none  that  I  can  render  very 
intelligible.  Admiral  Bluewater,  certainly,  did  make  a  few 
communications  that  I  was  to  repeat,  but  when  we  had  part 
ed,  by  some  extraordinary  dullness  of  my  own  I  fear,  1  find 
it  is  out  of  my  power  to  give  them  any  very  great  distinct 
ness  or  connection." 

"  Perhaps  the  fault  is  less  your  own,  sir,  than  his.  Blue- 
water  is  addicted  to  fits  of  absence  of  mind,  and  then  he  has 
no  reason  to  complain  that  others  do  not  understand  him, 
as  he  does  not  always  understand  himself." 

Sir  Gervaise  said  this  with  a  little  glee,  for  he  was  great 
ly  delighted  at  finding  his  friend  had  not  committed  himself 
to  his  messenger.  The  latter,  however,  was  less  disposed  to 
excuse  himself  by  such  a  process,  inasmuch  as  he  felt  cer 
tain  that  the  rear-admiral's  feelings  were  in  the  matter  he 
communicated,  let  the  manner  have  been  what  it  might. 

"  I  do  not  think  we  can  attribute  anything  to  Admiral 
Bluewater's  absence  of  mind,  on  this  occasion,  sir,"  an 
swered  Wycherly,  with  generous  frankness.  "  His  feelings 
appeared  to  be  strongly  enlisted  in  what  he  said.  It  might 
have  been  owing  to  the  strength  of  these  feelings  that  he  was 
a  little  obscure,  but  it  could  not  have  been  owing  to  indif 
ference," 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  363 

"1  shall  best  understand  the  matter,  then,  by  hearing 
what  he  did  say,  sir." 

Wycherly  paused,  and  endeavoured  to  recall  what  had 
passed,  in  a  way  to  make  it  intelligible. 

"  I  was  frequently  told  to  caution  you  not  to  engage  the 
French,  sir,  until  the  other  division  had  closed,  and  was 
ready  to  assist.  But,  really,  whether  this  was  owing  to 
some  secret  information  that  the  rear-admiral  had  obtained, 
or  to  a  natural  desire  to  have  a  share  in  the  battle,  is  more 
than  I  can  say." 

"  Each  may  have  had  its  influence.  Was  any  allusion 
made  to  secret  intelligence,  that  you  name  it  ?" 

"  I  never  felt  more  cause  to  be  ashamed  of  my  own  dull 
ness,  than  at  this  present  moment,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes," 
exclaimed  Wycherly,  who  almost  writhed  under  the  awk 
wardness  of  his  situation ;  for  he  really  began  to  suspect 
that  his  own  personal  grounds  of  unhappiness  had  induced 
him  to  forget  some  material  part  of  his  message ; — "  recent 
events  ashore,  had  perhaps  disqualified  me  for  this  duty." 

"  It  is  natural  it  should  be  so,  my  young  friend ;  and  as 
I  am  acquainted  with  them  all,  you  can  rest  satisfied  with 
my  indulgence." 

"  All !  no — Sir  Gervaise,  you  know  not  half — but,  I  forget 
myself,  sir,  and  beg  your  pardon." 

"  I  have  no  wish  to  pry  into  your  secrets,  Sir  Wycherly 
Wychecombe,  and  we  will  drop  the  subject.  You  may  say, 
however,  if  the  rear-admiral  was  in  good  spirits — as  an  Eng 
lish  seaman  is  apt  to  be,  with  the  prospect  of  a  great  battle 
before  him." 

"  I  thought  not,  Sir  Gervaise.  Admiral  Bluewater  to  me 
seemed  sad,  if  I  may  presume  to  mention  it — almost  to 
tears,  I  thought,  sir,  one  or  twice." 

"  Poor  Dick  !"  mentally  ejaculated  the  vice-admiral ;  "  he 
never  could  have  made  up  his  mind  to  desert  me  without 
great  anguish  of  soul.  Was  there  anything  said,"  speaking 
aloud,  "  about  the  fleet  of  M.  de  Vervillin  ?" 

"  Certainly  a  good  deal,  sir  •  and  yet  am  I  ashamed  to 
say,  I  scarce  know  what !  Admiral  Bluewater  appeared  to 
think  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  had  no  intention  to  strike  a 
blow  at  any  of  our  colonies,  and  with  this  he  seemed  to 
connect  the  idea  that  there  would  be  less  necessity  for  our 


364  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

engaging  him.  At  all  events,  I  cannot  bo  mistaken  in  his 
wish  that  you  would  keep  off,  sir,  until  he  could  close." 

"  Ay,  and  you  see  how  instinctively  I  have  answered  to 
his  wishes  !"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling  a  little  bitterly. 
"  Nevertheless,  had  the  rear  of  the  fleet  been  up  this  morn 
ing,  Sir  Wycherly,  it  might  have  been  a  glorious  day  for 
England !" 

"  It  has  been  a  glorious  day,  as  it  is,  sir.  We,  in  the 
Druid,  saw  it  all ;  and  there  was  not  one  among  us  that  did 
not  exult  in  the  name  of  Englishman  !" 

"  What,  even  to  the  Virginian,  Wychecombe  !"  rejoined 
Sir  Gervaise,  greatly  gratified  with  the  natural  commenda 
tion  conveyed  in  the  manner  and  words  of  the  other,  and 
looking  in  a  smiling,  friendly  manner,  at  the  young  man. 
"  I  was  afraid  the  hits  you  got  in  Devonshire  might  have 
induced  you  to  separate  your  nationality  from  that  of  old 
England." 

"  Even  to  the  Virginian,  Sir  Gervaise.  You  have  been 
in  the  colonies,  sir,  and  must  know  we  do  not  merit  all  that 
we  sometimes  receive,  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  The 
king  has  no  subjects  more  loyal  than  those  of  America." 

"  I  am  fully  aware  of  it,  my  noble  lad,  and  have  told  the 
king  as  much,  with  my  own  mouth.  But  think  no  more  of 
this.  If  your  old  uncle  did  give  you  an  occasional  specimen 
of  true  John  Bullism,  he  has  left  you  an  honourable  title  and 
a  valuable  estate.  I  shall  see  that  Greenly  finds  a  berth  for 
you,  and  you  will  consent  to  mess  with  me,  I  hope.  I  trust 
some  time  to  see  you  at  Bowldero.  At  present  we  will  go 
on  deck  ;  and  if  anything  that  Admiral  Bluewater  has  said 
should  recur  to  your  mind  more  distinctly,  you  will  not 
forget  to  let  me  know  it." 

Wycherly  now  bowed  and  left  the  cabin,  while  Sir  Ger 
vaise  sat  down  and  wrote  a  note  to  Greenly  to  request  that 
he  would  look  a  little  after  the  comfort  of  the  young  man. 
The  latter  then  went  on  deck,  in  person.  Although  he  en 
deavoured  to  shake  off  the  painful  doubts  that  beset  him, 
and  to  appear  as  cheerful  as  became  an  officer  who  had  just 
performed  a  brilliant  exploit,  the  vice-admiral  found  it  diffi 
cult  to  conceal  the  shock  he  had  received  from  Blue  water's 
communication.  Certain  as  he  felt  of  striking  a  decisive 
blow  at  the  enemy,  could  he  be  reinforced  with  the  five 


THJi    TWO     ADMIRALS.  365 

ships  of  the  rear  division,  he  would  cheerfully  forego  the 
triumph  of  such  additional  success,  to  be  certain  his  friend 
did  not  intend  to  carry  his  disaffection  to  overt  acts.  He 
found  it  hard  to  believe  that  a  man  like  Bluewater  could 
really  contemplate  carrying  off  with  him  the  ships  he  com- 
manded  ;  yet  he  knew  the  authority  his  friend  wielded  over 
his  captains,  and  the  possibility  of  such  a  step  would  pain 
fully  obtrude  itself  on  his  mind,  at  moments.  "  When  a 
man  can  persuade  himself  into  all  the  nonsense  connected 
with  the  jus  divinum"  thought  Sir  Gervaise,  "  it  is  doing 
no  great  violence  to  common  sense  to  persuade  himself 
into  all  its  usually  admitted  consequences."  Then,  again, 
would  interpose  his  recollections  of  Bluewater's  integrity 
and  simplicity  of  character,  to  reassure  him,  and  give  him 
more  cheering  hopes  for  the  result.  Finding  himself  thus 
vacillating  between  hope  and  dread,  the  commander-in-chief 
determined  to  drive  the  matter  temporarily  from  his  mind, 
by  bestowing  his  attention  on  the  part  of  the  fleet  he  had 
with  him.  Just  as  this  wise  resolution  was  formed,  both 
Greenly  and  Wycherly  appeared  on  the  poop. 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  with  a  hungry  look,  Greenly," 
cried  Sir  Gervaise,  cheerfully ;  "  here  has  Galleygo  just 
been  to  report  his  breakfast,  and,  as  I  know  your  cabin  has 
not  been  put  in  order  since  the  people  left  the  guns,  I  hope 
for  the  pleasure  of  your  company.  Sir  Wycherly,  my  gal 
lant  young  Virginian,  here,  will  take  the  third  chair,  I  trust, 
and  then  our  party  will  be  complete." 

The  two  gentlemen  assenting,  the  vice-admiral*  was  about 
to  lead  the  way  below,  when  suddenly  arresting  his  foot 
steps,  on  the  poop-ladder,  he  said  — 

"  Did  you  not  tell  me,  Wychecombe,  that  the  Druid  had 
sprung  her  foremast  ?" 

"  Badly,  I  believe,  Sir  Gervaise,  in  the  hounds.  Captain 
Blewet  carried  on  his  ship  fearfully,  all  night." 

"Ay,  he's  a  fearful  fellow  with  spars,  that  Tom  Blewet. 
I  never  felt  certain  of  finding  all  the  sticks  in  their  places, 
on  turning  out  of  a  morning,  when  he  was  with  you  as  a 
lieutenant,  Greenly.  How  many  jib-booms  and  top-gallant 
yards  did  he  cost  us,  in  that  cruise  off  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  ?  By  George,  it  must  have  been  a  dozen,  at  least !" 

"  Not  quite  as  bad  as  that,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  he  did 
31* 


366  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

expend  two  jib-booms  and  three  top-gallant  yards,  for  me. 
Captain  Blewet  has  a  fast  ship,  and  he  wishes  people  to 
know  it." 

"  And  he  has  sprung  his  foremast  and  he  shall  see  / 
know  it !  Harkee,  Bunting,  make  the  Druid's  number  to  lie 
by  the  prize ;  and  when  that 's  answered,  tell  him  to  take 
charge  of  the  Frenchman,  and  to  wait  for  further  orders. 
I  '11  send  him  to  Plymouth  to  get  a  new  foremast,  and  to  see 
the  stranger  in.  By  the  way,  does  anybody  know  the  name 
of  the  Frenchman  —  hey  !  Greenly  ?" 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  some  of  our 
gentlemen  think  it  is  the  ship  that  was  the  admiral's  second 
ahead,  in  our  brush  off  Cape  Finisterre.  I  am  not  of  the 
same  opinion,  however ;  for  that  vessel  had  a  billet-head, 
and  this  has  a  woman  figure-head,  that  looks  a  little  like  a 
Minerva.  The  French  have  a  la  Minerve,  I  think." 

"  Not  now,  Greenly,  if  this  be  she,  for  she  is  ours" 
Here  Sir  Gervaise  laughed  heartily  at  his  own  humour,  and 
all  near  him  joined  in,  as  a  matter  of  course.  "  But  la  Mi- 
nerve  has  been  a  frigate  time  out  of  mind.  The  Goddess 
of  Wisdom  has  never  been  fool  enough  to  get  into  a  line  of 
battle  when  she  has  had  it  in  her  power  to  prevent  it." 

"  We  thought  the  figure-head  of  the  prize  a  Venus,  as 
we  passed  her  in  the  Druid,"  Wycherly  modestly  observed. 

"  There  is  a  way  of  knowing,  and  it  shall  be  tried.  When 
you  've  done  with  the  Druid,  Bunting,  make  the  prize's  sig 
nal  to  repeat  her  name  by  telegraph.  You  know  how  to 
make  a  prize's  number,  I  suppose,  when  she  has  none." 

"  I  confess  I  do  not,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Bunting, 
who  had  shown  by  his  manner  that  he  was  at  a  loss.  "  Hav 
ing  no  number  in  our  books,  one  would  be  at  a  stand  how  to 
get  at  her,  sir." 

"  How  would  you  do  it,  young  man  ?"  asked  Sir  Gervaise, 
who  all  this  time  was  hanging  on  to  the  man-rope  of  the 
poop-ladder.  "  Let  us  see  how  well  you  've  been  taught, 
sir." 

"  I  believe  it  may  be  done  in  different  modes,  Sir  Ger 
vaise,"  Wycherly  answered,  without  any  appearance  of 
triumph  at  his  superior  readiness,  "  but  the  simplest  I  know 
is  to  hoist  the  French  flag  under  the  English,  by  way  of 
saying  for  vfhom  the  signal  is  intended." 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  367 

w  Do  it,  Bunting,"  continued  Sir  Gervaise,  nodding  his 
head  as  he  descended  the  ladder,  "  and  I  warrant  you,  Daly 
will  answer.  What  sort  of  work  he  will  make  with  the 
Frenchman's  flags,  is  another  matter.  I  doubt,  too,  if  he 
had  the  wit  to  carry  one  of  our  books  with  him,  in  which 
case  he  will  be  at  a  loss  to  read  our  signal.  Try  him,  how 
ever,  Bunting ;  an  Irishman  always  has  something  to  say 
though  it  be  a  bull." 

This  order  given,  Sir  Gervaise  descended  to  his  cabin. 
In  half  an  hour  the  party  was  seated  at  table,  as  quietly  as 
if  nothing  unusual  had  occurred  that  day. 

"  The  worst  of  these  little  brushes  which  lead  to  nothing, 
is  that  they  leave  as  strong  a  smell  of  gunpowder  in  your 
cabin,  Greenly,  as  if  a  whole  fleet  had  been  destroyed," 
observed  the  vice-admiral  good-humouredly,  as  he  began  to 
help  his  guests.  "  I  hope  the  odour  we  have  here  will  not 
disturb  your  appetites,  gentlemen." 

"  You  do  this  day's  success  injustice,  Sir  Gervaise,  in 
calling  it  only  a  brush,"  answered  the  captain,  who,  to  say 
the  truth,  had  fallen  to  as  heartily  upon  the  delicacies  of 
Galleygo,  as  if  he  had  not  eaten  in  twenty-four  hours.  "At 
any  rate,  it  has  brushed  the  spars  out  of  two  of  king  Lewis's 
ships,  and  one  of  them  into  our  hands  ;  ay,  and  in  a  certain 
sense  into  our  pockets." 

"  Quite  true,  Greenly  —  quite  true ;  but  what  would  it 
have  been  if — " 

The  sudden  manner  in  which  the  commander-in-chief 
ceased  speaking  induced  his  companions  to  think  that  he 
had  met  with  some  accident  in  eating  or  drinking ;  both 
looked  earnestly  at  him,  as  if  to  offer  assistance.  He  was 
pale  in  the  face,  but  he  smiled,  and  otherwise  appeared  at 
his  ease. 

"  It  is  over,  gentlemen,"  sajd  Sir  Gervaise,  gently — 
"  we  '11  think  no  more  of  it." 

"  I  sincerely  hope  you  've  not  been  hit,  sir  ?"  said  Green 
ly.  "  I  've  known  men  hit,  who  did  not  discover  that  they 
were  hurt  until  some  sudden  weakness  has  betrayed  it." 

"  I  believe  the  French  have  let  me  off  this  time,  my  good 
friend — yes,  I  think  Magrath  will  be  plugging  no  shot-holes 
in  my  hull  for  this  affair.  Sir  Wycherly,  those  eggs  are 
from  your  own  estate,  Galleygo  having  laid  the  manor  un- 


368  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

der  contribution  for  all  sorts  of  good  things.     Try 
Greenly,  as  coming  from  our  friend's  property." 

"  Sir  Wycherly  is  a  lucky  fellow  in  having  an  estate," 
said  the  captain.  "  Few  officers  of  his  rank  can  boast  of 
such  an  advantage ;  though,  now  and  then,  an  old  one  is 
better  off." 

"  That  is  true  enough  —  hey  !  Greenly  ?  The  army 
fetches  up  most  of  the  fortunes  ;  for  your  rich  fellows  like 
good  county  quarters  and  county  balls.  I  was  a  younger 
brother  when  they  sent  me  to  sea,  but  I  became  a  baronet, 
and  a  pretty  warm  one  too,  while  yet  a  reefer.  Poor  Josse* 
lin  died  when  I  was  only  sixteen,  and  at  seventeen  they 
made  me  an  officer." 

"  Ay,  and  we  like  you  all  the  better,  Sir  Gervaise,  tor  not 
giving  us  up  when  the  money  came.  Now  Lord  Morganic 
was  a  captain  when  he  succeeded,  and  we  think  much  less 
of  that." 

"  Morganic  remains  in  service,  to  teach  us  how  to  stay 
top-masts  and  paint  figure-heads ;"  observed  Sir  Gervaise,  a 
little  drily.  "  And  yet  the  fellow  handled  his  ship  well  to 
day  ;  making  much  better  weather  of  it  than  I  feared  he 
would  be  able  to  do." 

"  I  hear  we  are  likely  to  get  another  duke  in  the  navy, 
«ir ;  it 's  not  often  we  catch  one  of  that  high  rank." 

Sir  Gervaise  cared  much  less  for  things  of  this  sort  than 
Bluewater,  but  he  naturally  cast  a  glance  at  the  speaker,  as 
this  was  said,  as  much  as  to  ask  whom  he  meant. 

"  They  tell  me,  sir,  that  Lord  Montresor,  the  elder  brother 
of  the  boy  in  the  Csesar,  is  in  a  bad  way,  and  Lord  Geoffrey 
stands  next  to  the  succession.  I  think  there  is  too  much 
stuff  in  him  to  quit  us  now  he  is  almost  fit  to  get  his  com 
mission." 

"  True,  Bluewater  has  that  boy  of  high  hopes  and  pro 
mise  with  him-,  too ;"  answered  Sir  Gervaise  in  a  musing 
manner,  unconscious  of  what  he  said.  "  God  send  he  may 
not  forget  that,  among  other  things  !" 

"  I  don't  think  rank  makes  any  difference  with  Admiral 
Bluewater,  or  Captain  Stowel.  The  nobles  are  worked  up 
in  their  ship,  as  well  as  the  humblest  reefer  of  them  alL 
Here  is  Bunting,  sir,  to  tell  us  something.'* 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  369 

Sir  Gervaise  started  from  a  fit  of  abstraction,  and,  turn 
ing,  he  saw  his  signal  officer  ready  to  report. 

"  The  Druid  has  answered  properly,  Sir  Gervaise,  and 
has  already  hauled  up  so  close  that  I  think  she  will  luff* 
through  the  line,  though  it  may  be  astern  of  the  Carnatic." 

"  And  the  prize,  Bunting  1  Have  you  signalled  the  prize, 
as  I  told  you  to  do  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  and  she  has  answered  so  properly  that  I  make 
no  question  the  prize-officer  took  a  book  with  him.  The 
telegraphic  signal  was  answered  like  the  other." 

"  Well,  what  does  he  say  1  Have  you  found  out  the  name 
of  the  Frenchman  ?" 

"  That 's  the  difficulty,  sir ;  we  are  understood,  but  Mr. 
Daly  has  shown  something  aboard  the  prize  that  the  quar 
ter-master  swears  is  a  paddy." 

"  A  paddy ! — What,  he  hasn't  had  himself  run  up  at  a 
yard-arm,  or  stun'sail-boom  end,  has  he  —  hey?  Wyche- 
combe  1  Daly  's  an  Irishman,  and  has  only  to  show  him 
self  to  show  a  paddy." 

"  But  this  is  a  sort  of  an  image  of  some  kind  or  other, 
Sir  Gervaise,  and  yet  it  isn't  Mr.  Daly.  I  rather  think  he 
hasn't  the  flags  necessary  for  our  words,  and  has  rigged  out 
a  sort  of  a  woman,  to  let  us  know  his  ship's  name ;  for  she 
has  a  woman  figure-head,  you  know,  sir." 

"  The  devil  he  has !  Well,  that  will  form  an  era  in  sig 
nals.  Galleygo,  look  out  at  the  cabin-window  and  let  me 
know  if  you  can  see  the  prize  from  them — well,  sir,  what 's 
the  news  ?" 

"  I  sees  her,  Sir  Jarvy,"  answered  the  steward,  "  and  I 
sees  her  where  no  French  ship  as  sails  in  company  with 
British  vessels  has  a  right  to  be.  If  she 's  a  fathom,  your 
honour,  she 's  fifty  to  windward  of  our  line  !  Quite  out  of 
her  place,  as  a  body  might  say,  and  onreasonable." 

"  That 's  owing  to  our  having  felled  the  forests  of  her 
masts,  Mr.  Galleygo  ;  every  spar  that  is  left  helping  to  put 
her  where  she  is.  That  prize  must  be  a  weatherly  ship, 
though,  hey  !  Greenly  1  She  and  her  consort  were  well  to 
windward  of  their  own  line,  or  we  could  never  have  got  'em 
as  we  did.  These  Frenchmen  do  turn  off  a  weatherly  ves 
sel  now  rnd  then, — that  we  must  all  admit." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Jarvy,"  put  in  Galleygo,  who  never  let  tho 


370  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS* 

conversation  flag  when  he  was  invited  to  take  a  part  in  it , 
"  yes,  Sir  Jarvy,  and  when  they  've  turned  'em  off  the  stocks 
they  turns  'em  over  to  us,  commonly,  to  sail  'em.  Building 
a  craft  is  one  piece  of  knowledge,  and  sailing  her  well  is 
another." 

"  Enough  of  your  philosophy,  sirrah  ;  look  and  ascertain 
if  there  is  anything  unusual  to  be  seen  hanging  in  the  rig 
ging  of  the  prize.  Unless  you  show  more  readiness,  I  '11 
send  one  of  the  Bowlderos  to  help  you." 

These  Bowlderos  were  the  servants  that  Sir  Gervaiso 
brought  with  him  from  his  house,  having  been  born  on  his 
estate,  and  educated  as  domestics  in  his  own,  or  his  father's 
family ;  and  though  long  accustomed  to  a  man-of-war,  as 
their  ambition  never  rose  above  their  ordinary  service,  the 
steward  held  them  exceedingly  cheap.  A  severer  punish 
ment  could  not  be  offered  him,  than  to  threaten  to  direct  one 
of  these  common  menials  to  do  any  duty  that,  in  the  least, 
pertained  to  the  profession.  The  present  menace  had  the 
desired  effect,  Galleygo  losing  no  time  in  critically  examin 
ing  the  prize's  rigging. 

"  I  calls  nothing  extr'ornary  in  a  Frenchman's  rigging, 
Sir  Jarvy,"  answered  the  steward,  as  soon  as  he  felt  sure 
of  his  fact ;  "  their  dock-men  have  idees  of  their  own,  as  to 
such  things.  Now  there  is  sum'mat  hanging  at  the  lee 
fore-yard-arm  of  that  chap,  that  looks  as  if  it  might  be  a 
top-gallant-stun'sail  made  up  to  be  sent  aloft  and  set,  but 
which  stopped  when  it  got  as  high  as  it  is,  on  finding  out  that 
there 's  no  hamper  over-head  to  spread  it  to." 

"  That 's  it,  sir,"  put  in  Bunting.  "  Mr.  Daly  has  run 
his  woman  up  to  the  fore-yard-arm,  like  a  pirate." 

"  Woman  !"  repeated  Galleygo  —  "  do  you  call  that  'ere 
thing-um-mee  a  woman,  Mr.  Buntin'  ?  I  calls  it  a  bundle 
of  flags,  made  up  to  set,  if  there  was  anything  to  set  'em 
to."  , 

"  It 's  nothing  but  an  Irish  woman,  Master  Galleygo,  as 
you  '11  see  for  yourself,  if  you  '11  level  this  glass  at  it." 

"  I  '11  do  that  office  myself,"  cried  Sir  Gervaise.  "  Have 
you  any  curiosity,  gentlemen,  to  read  Mr.  Daly's  signal  ? 
Galleygo,  open  that  weather  window,  and  clear  away  the 
books  and  writing-desk,  that  we  may  have  a  look." 

The  orders  were  immediately  obeyed,  and  the  vice-ad« 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  371 

Rural  was  soon  seated  examining  the  odd  figure  that  wag 
certainly  hanging  at  the  lee  fore-yard-arm  of  the  prize ;  a 
perfect  nondescript  as  regarded  all  nautical  experience. 

"  Hang  me,  if  I  can  make  anything  of  it,  Greenly."  said 
Sir  Gervaise,  after  a  long  look.  "  Do  you  take  this  seat, 
and  try  your  hand  at  an  observation.  It  resembles  a  sort 
of  a  woman,  sure  enough." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  observed  Bunting,  with  the  earnestness  of  a 
man  who  felt  his  reputation  involved  in  the  issue,  "  I  wag 
certain  that  Mr.  Daly  has  run  up  the  figure  to  let  us  know 
the  name  of  the  prize,  and  that  for  want  of  a  telegraph-book 
to  signal  the  letters ;  and  so  I  made  sure  of  what  I  was 
about,  before  I  took  the  liberty  to  come  below  and  report." 

"  And  pray  what  do  you  make  of  it,  Bunting  ?  The 
figure-head  might  tell  us  better,  but  that  seems  to  be  imper 
fect." 

"  The  figure-head  has  lost  all  its  bust,  and  one  arm,  by 
a  shot,"  said  Greenly,  turning  the  glass  to  the  object  named ; 
"  and  I  can  tell  Mr.  Daly  that  a  part  of  the  gammoning  of 
his  bowsprit  is  gone,  too !  That  ship  requires  looking  to, 
Sir  Gervaise ;  she  '11  have  no  foremast  to-morrow  morning, 
if  this  wind  stand  J  Another  shot  has  raked  the  lower  side 
of  her  fore-top,  and  carried  away  half  the  frame.  Yes,  and 
there  's  been  a  fellow  at  work,  too  — " 

"  Never  mind  the  shot  —  never  mind  the  shot,  Greenly," 
interrupted  the  vice-admiral.  "  A  poor  devil  like  him, 
couldn't  have  six  of  us  at  him,  at  once,  and  expect  to  go 
*  shot  free.'  Tell  us  something  of  the  woman." 

"  Well,  Sir  Gervaise,  no  doubt  Daly  has  hoisted  her  as  a 
symbol.  Ay,  no  doubt  the  ship  is  the  Minerva,  after  all,  for 
there 's  something  on  the  head  like  a  helmet." 

"  It  never  can  be  the  Minerva,"  said  the  vice-admiral, 
positively,  "  for  she,  I  feel  certain,  is  a  frigate.  Hand  me 
the  little  book  with  a  red  cover,  Bunting ;  that  near  your 
hand ;  it  has  a  list  of  the  enemy's  navy.  Here  it  is  '  la 
Minerve,  32,  le  capitaine  de  fregate,  Mondon.  Built  in 
1733,  old  and  dull.'  That  settles  the  Minerva,  for  this  list 
is  the  last  sent  us  by  the  admiralty." 

"  Then  it  must  be  the  Pallas,"  rejoined  Greenly,  "  for 
she  wears  a  helmet,  too,  and  I  am  certain  there  is  not  only 
a  eap  to  resemble  a  helmet,  but  a  Guernsey  frock  on  the 


372  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

body  to  represent  armour.  Both  Minerva  and  Pallas,  rf  1 
remember  right,  wore  armour." 

"  This  is  coming  nearer  to  the  point, — hey !  Greenly," 
the  vice-admiral  innocently  chimed  in ;  "  let  us  look  and 
see  if  the  Pallas  is  a  two-decker  or  not.  By  George,  there 's 
no  such  name  on  the  list.  That's  oddy  now,  that  the  French 
should  have  one  of  these  goddesses  and  not  the  other !" 

"  They  never  has  anything  right,  Sir  Jarvy,"  Galleygo 
thrust  in,  by  way  of  commentary  on  the  vice-admiral's  and 
the  captain's  classical  lore ;  "  and  it 's  surprising  to  me  that 
they  should  have  any  goddess  at  all,  seeing  that  they  has 
so  little  respect  for  religion,  in  general." 

Wycherly  fidgeted,  but  respect  for  his  superiors  kept 
him  silent.  As  for  Bunting,  'twas  all  the  same  to  him,  his 
father  having  been  a  purser  in  the  navy,  and  he  himself 
educated  altogether  on  board  ship,  and  this,  too,  a  century 
since. 

"  It  might  not  be  amiss,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the  cap 
tain,  "  to  work  this  rule  backwards,  and  just  look  over  the 
list  until  we  find  a  two-decked  ship  that  ought  to  have  a 
woman  figure-head,  which  will  greatly  simplify  the  matter. 
I  've  known  difficult  problems  solved  in  that  mode." 

The  idea  struck  Sir  Gervaise  as  a  good  one,  and  he  set 
about  the  execution  of  the  project  in  good  earnest.  Just  as 
he  came  to  VHecate  64,  an  exclamation  from  Greenly 
caught  his  attention,  and  he  inquired  its  cause. 

"  Look  for  yourself,  Sir  Gervaise ;  unless  my  eyes  are 
good  for  nothing,  Daly  is  running  a  kedge  up  alongside  of 
his  woman." 

"  What,  a  kedge  ? — Ay,  that  is  intended  for  an  anchor, 
nnd  it  means  Hope.  Everybody  knows  that  Hope  carries 
an  anchor, — hey  !  Wychecombe  ?  Upon  my  word,  Daly 
shows  ingenuity.  Look  for  the  Hope,  in  that  list,  Bunting, 
—  you  will  find  the  English  names  printed  first,  in  the  end 
of  the  book." 

"  '  The  Hope,  or  VEsperance?  "  read  the  signal -officer  ; 
" '  36,  lee  capitang  dee  frigate  dee  Courtraii.9  " 

"  A  single-decked  ship,  after  all !  This  affair  is  as  bad 

as  the  d d  nullus,  ashore,  there.  I  '11  not  be  beaten  in 

learning,  however,  by  any  Frenchman  who  ever  floated. 
Go  below,  Locker,  and  desire  Doctor  Magrath  to  step  up 


THB    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

here,  if  he  is  not  occupied  with  the  wounded.  He  knows 
more  Latin  than  any  man  in  the  ship." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Jarvy,  but  this  is  French,  you  knows,  your 
honour,  and  isn't  as  Latin,  at  all.  I  expects  she  '11  turn  out 
to  have  some  name  as  no  modest  person  wishes  to  use,  and 
we  shall  have  to  halter  it." 

"  Ay,  he  's  catted  his  anchor,  sure  enough  ;  if  the  figure 
be  not  Hope,  it  must  be  Faith,  or  Charity." 

"  No  fear  of  them,  Sir  Jarvy ;  the  French  has  no  faith, 
nor  no  charity,  no,  nor  no  bowels,  as  any  poor  fellow  knows 
as  has  ever  been  wrecked  on  their  coast,  as  once  happened 
to  me,  when  a  b'y.  I  looks  upon  'em  *as  no  better  than  so 
many  heatheners,  and  perhaps  that  7s  the  name  of  the  ship. 
I  Ve  seed  heatheners,  a  hundred  times,  Sir  Jarvy,  in  that 
sort  of  toggery." 

"  What,  man,  did  you  ever  see  a  heathen  with  an  anchor  ? 
—  one  that  will  weigh  three  hundred,  if  it  will  weigh  a 
pound  ?" 

"  Perhaps  not,  your  honour,  with  a  downright  hanchor, 
but  with  sum'mat  like  a  killog.  But,  that 's  no  hanchor, 
a'ter  all,  but  only  a  kedge,  catted  hanchor-fashion,  sir." 

"  Here  comes  Magrath,  to  help  us  out  of  the  difficulty ; 
and  we  '11  propound  the  matter  to  him." 

The  vice-admiral  now  explained  the  whole  affair  to  the 
surgeon,  frankly  admitting  that  the  classics  of  the  cabin 
were  at  fault,  and  throwing  himself  on  the  gun-room  for 
assistance.  Magrath  was  not  a  little  amused,  as  he  listened, 
for  this  was  one  of  his  triumphs,  and  he  chuckled  not  a 
little  at  the  dilemma  of  his  superiors. 

"  Well,  Sir  Jairvis,"  he  answered,  "  ye  might  do  warse 
than  call  a  council  o'  war  on  the  matter ;  but  if  it 's  the 
name  ye  '11  be  wanting,  I  can  help  ye  to  that,  without  the 
aids  of  symbols,  and  signs,  and  hyeroglyphics  of  any  sort. 
As  we  crossed  the  vessel's  wake,  a  couple  of  hours  since,  I 
read  it  on  her  stern,  in  letters  of  gold.  It 's  la  Victaire,  or 
the  Victory  ;  a  most  unfortunate  cognomen  for  an  unlucky 
ship.  She 's  a  French  victory,  however,  ye  '11  remember, 
gentlemen !" 

"  That  must  be  a  mistake,  Magrath  ;  for  Daly  has  shown 
an  anchor,  yonder ;  and  Victory  carries  no  anchor." 

"  II  's  hard  to  say,  veece-admiral,  one  man's  victory  being 
32 


374  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

another  man's  defeat.  As  for  Mr.  Daly's  image,  it 's  just 
an  Irish  goddess ;  and  allowances  must  be  made  for  the 
country." 

Sir  Gervaise  laughed,  invited  the  gentlemen  to  help  de 
molish  the  breakfast,  and  sent  orders  on  deck  to  hoist  the 
answering  flag.  At  a  later  day,  Daly,  when  called  on  for 
an  explanation,  asserted  that  the  armour  and  helmet  be 
longed  to  Victory,  as  a  matter  of  course ;  though  he  admitted 
that  he  had  at  first  forgotten  the  anchor ;  "  but,  when  I  did 
run  it  up,  they  read  it  aboard  the  ould  Planter,  as  if  it  had 
been  just  so  much  primmer." 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

*  There 's  beauty  in  the  deep : — 
The  wave  is  bluer  than  the  sky; 
And,  though  the  light  shines  bright  on  high, 
More  softly  do  the  sea-gems  glow, 
That  sparkle  in  the  depths  below ; 
The  rainbow's  tints  are  only  made 
When  on  the  waters  they  are  laid. 
And  sun  and  moon  most  sweetly  shine 
Upon  the  ocean's  level  brine. 
There 's  beauty  in  the  deep." 

BRAINARD. 

As  Daly  was  the  recognised  jester  of  the  fleet,  his  extra 
ordinary  attempt  to  announce  his  vessel's  name  was  receiv 
ed  as  a  characteristic  joke,  and  it  served  to  laugh  at  until 
something  better  offered.  Under  the  actual  circumstances 
of  the  two  squadrons,  however,  it  was  soon  temporarily  for 
gotten  in  graver  things,  for  few  believed  the  collision  that 
had  already  taken  place  was  to  satisfy  a  man  of  the  known 
temperament  of  the  ?ommander-in-chief.  As  the  junction 
of  the  rear  division  was  the  only  thing  wanting  to  bring  on 
a  general  engagement,  as  soon  as  the  weather  should  mode 
rate  a  little,  every  ship  had  careful  look-outa  aloft,  sweeping 


fHE     tWO   ADMIRALS.  375 

the  horizon  constantly  with  glasses,  more  particularly  to 
wards  the  east  and  north-east.  The  gale  broke  about  noon, 
though  the  wind  still  continued  fresh  from  the  same  quar 
ter  as  before.  The  sea  began  to  go  down,  however,  and  a\ 
eight  bells  material  changes  had  occurred  in  the  situations 
of  both  fleets*  Some  of  these  it  may  be  necessary  to  men-- 
tion. 

The  ship  of  the  French  admiral,  le  Foudroyant,  and  le 
Scipion,  had  been  received,  as  it  might  be,  in  the  arms  of 
their  own  fleet,  in  the  manner  already  mentioned ;  and  from 
this  moment,  the  movement  of  the  whole  force  was,  in  a 
measure,  regulated  by  that  of  these  two  crippled  vessels. 
The  former  ship,  by  means  of  her  lower  sails,  might  have 
continued  to  keep  her  station  in  the  line,  so  long  as  the  gale 
lasted ;  but  the  latter  unavoidably  fell  off,  compelling  her 
consorts  to  keep  near,  or  to  abandon  her  to  her  fate.  M. 
de  Vervillin  preferred  the  latter  course.  The  consequences 
were,  that,  by  the  time  the  sun  was  in  the  zenith,  his  line,  a 
good  deal  extended,  still,  and  far  from  regular,  was  quite 
three  leagues  to  leeward  of  that  of  the  English.  Nor  was 
this  all :  at  that  important  turn  in  the  day,  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  was  enabled  to  make  sail  on  all  his  ships,  setting  the 
fore  and  mizzen-top-sails  close-reefed ;  while  la  Victoire,  a 
fast  vessel,  was  enabled  to  keep  in  company  by  carrying 
whole  courses.  The  French  could  not  imitate  this,  inas 
much  as  one  of  their  crippled  vessels  had  nothing  standing 
but  a  foremast.  Sir  Gervaise  had  ascertained,  before  the 
distance  became  too  great  for  such  observations,  that  the 
enemy  was  getting  ready  to  send  up  new  top-masts,  and 
the  other  necessary  spars  on  board  the  admiral,  as  well  as 
jury  lower-masts  in  le  Scipion ;  though  the  sea  would  not  yet 
permit  any  very  positive  demonstrations  to  be  made  towards 
such  an  improvement.  He  laid  his  own  plans  for  the  ap 
proaching  night  accordingly ;  determining  not  to  worry  his 
people,  or  notify  the  enemy  of  his  intensions,  by  attempting 
any  similar  improvement  in  the  immediate  condition  of  his 
prize. 

About  noon,  each  ship's  number  was  made  in  succession, 
and  the  question  was  put  if  she  had  sustained  any  material 
injury  in  the  late  conflict.  The  answers  were  satisfactory 
in  general,  though  one  or  two  of  the  vessels  made  such  re* 


376  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

plies  as  induced  the  commander-in-chief  to  resort  to  a  still 
more  direct  mode  of  ascertaining  the  real  condition  of  hia 
fleet.  In  order  to  effect  this  important  object,  Sir  Gervaise 
waited  two  hours  longer,  for  the  double  purpose  of  letting 
all  the  messes  get  through  with  their  dinners,  and  to  permit 
the  wind  to  abate  and  the  sea  to  fall,  as  both  were  now  fast 
doing.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  however,  he  appear 
ed  on  the  poop,  summoning  Bunting  to  his  customary  duty. 

At  2  P.  M.  it  blew  a  whole  top-sail  breeze,  as  it  is  called  ; 
but  the  sea  being  still  high,  and  the  ships  close-hauled,  the 
vice-admiral  did  not  see  fit  to  order  any  more  sail.  Per 
haps  he  was  also  influenced  by  a  desire  not  to  increase  his 
distance  from  the  enemy,  it  being  a  part  of  his  plan  to  keep 
M.  de  Vervillin  in  plain  sight  so  long  as  the  day  continued, 
in  order  that  he  might  have  a  tolerable  idea  of  the  position 
of  his  fleet,  during  the  hours  of  darkness.  His  present  in 
tention  was  to  cause  his  vessels  to  pass  before  him  in  re 
view,  as  a  general  orders  his  battalions  to  march  past  a  sta 
tion  occupied  by  himself  and  staff,  with  a  view  to  judge  by 
his  own  eye  of  their  steadiness  and  appearance.  Vice-Ad- 
miral  Oakes  was  the  only  officer  in  the  British  navy  who 
ever  resorted  to  this  practice ;  but  he  did  many  things  of 
which  other  men  never  dreamed,  and,  among  the  rest,  he 
did  not  hesitate  to  attack  double  his  force,  when  an  occasion 
offered,  as  has  just  been  seen.  The  officers  of  the  fleet 
called  these  characteristic  reviews  "  Sir  Jarvy's  field-days,'* 
finding  a  malicious  pleasure  in  comparing  anything  out  of 
the  common  nautical  track,  to  some  usage  of  the  soldiers. 

Bunting  got  his  orders,  notwithstanding  the  jokes  of  the 
fleet ;  and  the  necessary  signals  were  made  and  the  answers 
given.  Captain  Greenly  then  received  his  verbal  instruc 
tions,  when  the  commander-in-chief  went  below,  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  approaching  scene.  When  Sir  Gervaise  re 
appeared  on  the  poop,  he  was  in  full  uniform,  wearing  the 
star  of  the  Bath,  as  was  usual  with  him  on  all  solemn  offi 
cial  occasions.  Atwood  and  Bunting  were  at  his  side,  while 
the  Bowlderos,  in  their  rich  shore-liveries,  formed  a  group 
at  hand.  Captain  Greenly  and  his  first  lieutenant  joined 
the  party  as  soon  as  their  duty  with  the  ship  was  over.  On 
the  opposite  side  of  the  poop,  the  whole  of  the  marines  off 
guard  were  drawn  up  in  triple  lines,  with  their  officers  at 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  377 

their  head.  The  ship  herself  had  hauled  up  her  main-sail, 
hauled  down  all  her  stay-sails,  and  lay  with  her  main-top 
sail  braced  sharp  aback,  with  orders  to  the  quarter-master 
to  keep  her  little  off  the  wind ;  the  object  being  to  leave  a 
little  way  through  the  water,  in  order  to  prolong  the  ex 
pected  interviews.  With  these  preparations  the  Command 
er-in-chief  awaited  the  successive  approach  of  his  ships,  the 
sun,  for  the  first  time  in  twenty-four  hours,  making  his 
appearance  in  a  flood  of  brilliant  summer-light,  as  if  pur 
posely  to  grace  the  ceremony. 

The  first  ship  that  drew  near  the  Plantagenet  was  the 
Carnatic,  as  a  matter  of  course,  she  being  the  next  in  the 
line.  This  vessel,  remarkable,  as  the  commander-in-chief 
had  observed,  for  never  being  out  of  the  way,  was  not  long 
in  closing,  though  as  she  luffed  up  on  the  admiral's  weather- 
quarter,  to  pass  to  windward,  she  let  go  all  her  top-sail 
bowlines,  so  as  to  deaden  her  way,  making  a  sort  of  half- 
board.  This  simple  evolution,  as  she  righted  her  helm, 
brought  her  about  fifty  yards  to  windward  of  the  Plantage 
net,  past  which  ship  she  surged  slowly  but  steadily,  the 
weather  now  permitting  a  conversation  to  be  held  at  that 
distance,  and  by  means  of  trumpets,  with  little  or  no  effort 
of  the  voice. 

Most  of  the  officers  of  the  Carnatic  were  on  her  poop,  as 
she  came  sweeping  up  heavily,  casting  her  shadow  on  the 
Plantagenet's  decks.  Captain  Parker  himself  was  standing 
near  the  ridge-ropes,  his  head  uncovered,  and  the  grey  hairs 
floating  in  the  breeze.  The  countenance  of  this  simple- 
minded  veteran  was  a  little  anxious,  for,  had  he  feared  the 
enemy  a  tenth  part  as  much  as  he  stood  in  awe  of  his  com 
manding  officer,  he  would  have  been  totally  unfit  for  his 
station.  Now  he  glanced  upward  at  his  sails,  to  see  that  all 
was  right ;  then,  as  he  drew  nearer,  fathom  by  fathom  as  it 
might  be,  he  anxiously  endeavoured  to  read  the  expression 
of  the  vice-admiral's  face. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Captain  Parker  ?"  commenced  Sir  Ger- 
vaise,  with  true  trumpet  formality,  making  the  customary 
salutation. 

" How  is  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  to-day?   I  hope  untouched 
in  the  late  affair  with  the  enemy  1 ' 
32* 


378  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  Quite  well,  I  thank  you,  sir.  Has  the  Carnatic  received 
any  serious  injury  in  the  battle  f 

"  None  to  mention,  Sir  Gervaise.  A  rough  scrape  of  the 
foremast ;  but  not  enough  to  alarm  us,  now  the  weather  has 
moderated  ;  a  little  rigging  cut,  and  a  couple  of  raps  in  tho 
hull." 

"  Have  your  people  suffered,  sir  ?" 

"  Two  killed  and  seven  wounded,  Sir  Gervaise.  Good 
lads,  most  of  'em ;  but  enough  like  'em  remain." 

"  I  understand,  then,  Captain  Parker,  that  you  report  the 
Carnatic  fit  for  any  service  ?" 

"  As  much  so  as  my  poor  abilities  enable  me  to  make  her, 
Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,"  answered  the  other,  a  little  alarmed 
at  the  formality  and  precision  of  the  question.  "  Meet  her 
with  the  helm — meet  her  with  the  helm." 

All  this  passed  while  the  Carnatic  was  making  her  half- 
board,  and,  the  helm  being  righted,  she  now  slowly  and 
majestically  fell  off  with  her  broadside  to  the  admiral, 
gathering  way  as  her  canvass  began  to  draw  again.  At 
this  instant,  when  the  yard-arms  of  the  two  ships  were  about 
a  hundred  feet  asunder,  and  just  as  the  Carnatic  drew  up 
fairly  abeam,  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  raised  his  hat,  stepped 
quickly  to  the  side  of  the  poop,  waved  his  hand  for  silence, 
and  spoke  with  a  distinctness  that  rendered  his  words  audi 
ble  to  all  in  both  vessels. 

"  Captain  Parker,"  he  said,  "  I  wish,  publicly,  to  thank 
you  for  your  noble  conduct  this  day.  I  have  always  said 
a  surer  support  could  never  follow  a  commander-in-chief 
into  battle  ,•  you  have  more  than  proved  my  opinion  to  bo 
true.  I  wish,  publicly,  to  thank  you,  sir." 

"  Sir  Gervaise  —  I  cannot  express  —  God  bless  you,  Sir 
Gervaise !" 

"  I  have  but  one  fault  to  find  with  you,  sir,  and  that  is 
easily  pardoned." 

"  I  'm  sure  I  hope  so,  sir." 

"  You  handled  your  ship  so  rapidly  and  so  surely,  tba\ 
we  had  hardly  time  to  get  out  of  the  way  of  your  guns  !" 

Old  Parker  could  not  now  have  answered  had  his  life  de 
pended  on  it ;  but  he  bowed,  and  dashed  a  hand  across  hia 
eyes.  There  was  but  a  moment  to  say  any  more. 

"  If  His  Majesty's  sword  be  not  laid  on  your  shoulder, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

for  this  day's  work,  sir,  it  shall  be  no  fault  of  mine,"  added 
Sir  Gervaise,  waving  his  hat  in  adieu. 

While  this  dialogue  lasted,  so  profound  was  the  stillness 
ji  the  two  ships,  that  the  wash  of  the  water  under  the  bows 
of  the  Carnatic,  was  the  only  sound  to  interfere  with  Sir 
Gervaise's  clarion  voice ;  but  the  instant  he  ceased  to  speak, 
the  crews  of  both  vessels  rose  as  one  man,  and  cheered. 
The  officers  joined  heartily,  and  to  complete  the  compli 
ment,  the  commander-in-chief  ordered  his  own  marines  to 
present  arms  to  the  passing  vessel.  Then  it  was  that,  every 
sail  drawing,  again  the  Carnatic  took  a  sudden  start,  and 
shot  nearly  her  length  ahead,  on  the  summit  of  a  sea.  In 
half  a  minute  more,  she  was  ahead  of  the  Plantagenet's 
flying-jib-boom-end,  steering  a  little  free,  so  as  not  to  throw 
the  admiral  to  leeward. 

The  Carnatic  was  scarcely  out  of  the  way,  before  the 
Achilles  was  ready  to  take  her  place.  This  ship,  having 
more  room,  had  easily  luffed  to  windward  of  the  Plantage- 
net,  simply  letting  go  her  bowlines,  as  her  bows  doubled  on 
the  admiral's  stern,  in  order  to  check  her  way. 

"  How  do  you  do  to-day,  Sir  Gervaise  ?"  called  out  Lord 
Morganic,  without  waiting  for  the  commander-in-chief's 
hail — "  allow  me  to  congratulate  you,  sir,  on  the  exploits  of 
this  glorious  day !" 

"  I  thank  you,  my  lord,  and  wish  to  say  I  am  satisfied 
with  the  behaviour  of  your  ship.  You've  all  done  well, 
and  I  desire  to  thank  you  all.  Is  the  Achilles  injured  ?" 

"  Nothing  to  speak  of,  sir.  A  little  rigging  gone,  and 
here  and  there  a  stick." 

"  Have  you  lost  any  men,  my  lord  ?  I  desire  particular 
ly  to  know  the  condition  of  each  ship." 

"  Some  eight  or  ten  poor  fellows,  I  believe,  Sir  Gervaise ; 
but  we  are  ready  to  engage  this  instant." 

"  It  is  well,  my  lord ;  steady  your  bowlines,  and  make 
room  for  the  Thunderer." 

Morganic  gave  the  order,  but  as  his  ship  drew  ahead  he 
called  out  in  a  pertinacious  way, — "  I  hope,  Sir  Gervaise, 
you  don't  mean  to  give  that  other  lame  duck  up.  I  've  got 
my  first  lieutenant  on  board  one  of  'em,  and  confess  to  a 
desire  to  put  the  second  on  board  another." 

"  Ay  —  ay  —  Morganic*  we  knock  down  the  birds,  and 


380  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

you  bag  em.     I  '11  give  you  more  sport  in  the  same  way 
before  I  've  done  with  ye." 

This  little  concession,  even  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  a  man 
not  accustomed  to  trifle  in  matters  of  duty,  saw  fit  to  make 
to  the  other's  rank  ;  and  then  the  Achilles  withdrew  from 
before  the  flag-ship,  as  the  curtain  is  drawn  from  before  the 
scene. 

"  I  do  believe,  Greenleaf,"  observed  Lord  Morganic  to 
his  surgeon,  one  of  his  indulged  favourites  ;  "  that  Sir  Jarvy 
is  a  little  jealous  of  us,  because  Daly  got  into  the  prize  before 
he  could  send  one  of  his  own  boats  aboard  of  her.  'T  will 
tell  well  in  the  gazette,  too,  will  it  not  ? — *  The  French  ship 
was  taken  possession  of,  and  brought  off*,  by  the  Achilles, 
Captain  the  Earl  of  Morganic !'  I  hope  the  old  fellow  will 
have  the  decency  to  give  us  our  due.  I  rather  think  it  was 
our  last  broadside  that  brought  the  colours  down  ?" 

A  suitable  answer  was  returned,  but  as  the  ship  is  draw 
ing  ahead,  we  cannot  follow  her  to  relate  it.  The  vessel 
that  approached  the  third,  was  the  Thunderer,  Captain 
Foley.  This  was  one  of  the  ships  that  had  received  the  fire 
of  the  three  leading  French  vessels,  after  they  had  brought 
the  wind  abeam,  and  being  the  leading  vessel  of  the  English 
rear,  she  had  suffered  more  than  any  other  of  the  British 
squadron.  The  fact  was  apparent,  as  she  approached,  by 
the  manner  in  which  her  rigging  was  knotted,  and  the  atten 
tion  that  had  been  paid  to  her  spars.  Even  as  she  closed, 
the  men  were  on  the  yard  bending  a  new  main-course,  the 
old  one  having  been  hit  on  the  bolt-rope,  and  torn  nearly 
from  the  spar.  There  were  also  several  plugs  on  her  lee- 
side  to  mark  the  spots  where  the  French  guns  had  told. 

The  usual  greetings  passed  between  the  vice-admiral  and 
his  captain,  and  the  former  put  his  questions. 

"  We  have  not  been  quite  exchanging  salutes,  Sir  Ger 
vaise,"  answered  Captain  Foley  ;  "  but  the  ship  is  ready  for 
service  again.  Should  the  wind  moderate  a  little,  I  think 
everything  would  stand  to  carry  sail  hard.11 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,  sir  —  rejoiced  to  hear  it,  sir.  1 
feared  more  for  you,  than  for  any  other  vessel.  I  hope 
you  've  not  suffered  materially  in  your  crew  ?" 

"  Nine  killed,  Sir  Gervaise ;  and  the  surgeon  tells  me  six 
teen  wounded." 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  381 

"  That  proves  you  've  not  been  in  port,  Foley !  Well,  I 
dare  say,  could  the  truth  be  known,  it  would  be  found  that 
M.  de  Vervillin's  vessels  bear  your  marks,  in  revenge. 
Adieu — adieu — God  bless  you." 

The  Thunderer  glided  ahead,  making  room  for  the  Blen 
heim,  Captain  Sterling.  This  was  one  of  your  serviceable 
ships,  without  any  show  or  style  about  her ;  but  a  vessel 
that  was  always  ready  to  give  and  take.  Her  commander 
was  a  regular  sea-dog,  a  little  addicted  to  hard  and  out 
landish  oaths,  a  great  consumer  of  tobacco  and  brandy ;  but 
who  had  the  discrimination  never  to  swear  in  the  presence 
of  the  commander-in-chief,  although  he  had  been  known  to 
do  so  in  a  church ;  or  to  drink  more  than  he  could  well 
carry,  when  he  was  in  presence  of  an  enemy  or  a  gale  of 
wind.  He  was  too  firm  a  man,  and  too  good  a  seaman,  to 
use  the  bottle  as  a  refuge  ;  it  was  the  companion  of  his  ease 
and  pleasure,  and  to  confess  the  truth,  he  then  treated  it 
with  an  affectionate  benevolence,  that  rendered  it  exceedingly 
difficult  for  others  not  to  entertain  some  of  his  own  partiality 
for  it.  In  a  word,  Captain  Sterling  was  a  sailor  of  the  "  old 
school ;"  for  there  was  an  "  old  school"  in  manners,  habits, 
opinions,  philosophy,  morals,  and  reason,  a  century  since, 
precisely  as  there  is  to-day,  and  probably  will  be,  a  century 
hence. 

The  Blenheim  made  a  good  report,  not  having  sustained 
any  serious  injury  whatever ;  nor  had  she  a  man  hurt.  The 
captain  reported  his  ship  as  fit  for  service  as  she  was  the 
hour  she  lifted  her  anchor. 

"  So  much  the  better,  Sterling — so  much  the  better.  You 
shall  take  the  edge  off  the  next  affair,  by  way  of  giving  you 
another  chance.  I  rely  on  the  Blenheim,  and  on  her  cap 
tain." 

"  I  thank  you,  sir,"  returned  Sterling,  as  his  ship  moved 
on  ;  "  by  the  way,  Sir  Gervaise,  would  it  not  be  fair-play 
to  rummage  the  prize's  lockers  before  she  gets  into  the  hands 
of  the  custom-house  ?  Out  here  on  the  high  seas,  there  can 
be  no  smuggling  in  that;  there  must  be  good  claret  aboard 
her." 

"  There  would  be  '  plunder  of  a  prize,'  Sterling,"  said  the 
vice-admiral,  laughing,  for  he  knew  that  the  question  was 
put  more  as  a  joko  than  a  serious  proposition ;  "  and  that 


382  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

is  death,  without  benefit  of  clergy.  Move  on ;  here  is  Good- 
fellow  close  upon  your  heels." 

The  last  ship  in  the  English  line  was  the  Warspite,  Cap 
tain  Goodfellow,  an  officer  remarkable  in  the  service  at  that 
day,  for  a  "  religious  turn,"  as  it  was  called.  As  is  usually 
the  case  with  men  of  this  stamp,  Captain  Goodfellow  was 
quiet,  thoughtful,  and  attentive  to  his  duty.  There  was  less 
of  the  real  tar  in  him,  perhaps,  than  in  some  of  his  com 
panions  ;  but  his  ship  was  in  good  order,  always  did  her 
duty,  and  was  remarkably  attentive  to  signals ;  a  circum 
stance  that  rendered  her  commander  a  marked  favourite 
with  the  vice-admiral.  After  the  usual  questions  were  put 
and  answered,  Sir  Gervaise  informed  Goodfellow  that  he 
intended  to  change  the  order  of  sailing  so  as  to  bring  him 
near  the  van. 

"  We  will  give  old  Parker  a  breathing  spell,  Goodfellow," 
added  the  commander-in-chief,  "  and  you  will  be  my  second 
astern.  I  must  go  ahead  of  you  all,  or  you  '11  be  running 
down  on  the  Frenchman  without  orders ;  pretending  you 
can't  see  the  signals,  in  the  smoke." 

The  Warspite  drove  ahead,  and  the  Plantagenet  was  now 
left  to  receive  the  prize  and  the  Druid ;  the  Chloe,  Driver, 
and  Active,  not  being  included  in  the  signal.  Daly  had  been 
gradually  eating  the  other  ships  out  of  the  wind,  as  has  been 
mentioned  already,  and  when  the  order  was  given  to  pass 
within  hail,  he  grumbled  not  a  little  at  the  necessity  of  losing 
so  much  of  his  vantage-ground.  Nevertheless,  it  would  not 
do  to  joke  with  the  commander-in-chief  in  a  matter  of  this 
sort,  and  he  was  fain  to  haul  up  his  courses,  and  wait  for 
the  moment  when  he  might  close.  By  the  time  the  War- 
spite  was  out  of  the  way,  his  ship  had  drifted  down  so  near 
the  admiral,  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  haul  aboard 
his  tacks  again,  and  pass  as  near  as  was  at  all  desirable. 
When  quite  near,  he  hauled  up  his  mainsail,  by  order  of  the 
vice-admiral. 

"  Are  you  much  in  want  of  anything,  Mr.  Daly  ?"  de 
manded  Sir  Gervaise,  as  soon  as  the  lieutenant  appeared 
forward  to  meet  his  hail.  "  The  sea  is  going  down  so  fast, 
that  we  might  now  send  you  some  boats." 

"  Many  thanks,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  I  want  to  get  rid  of  a  hun 
dred  or  two  Frenchmen,  and  to  have  a  hundred  Englishmen 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  383 

in  their  places.  We  are  but  twenty-one  of  the  king's  sub 
jects  here,  all  told." 

"  Captain  Blewet  is  ordered  to  keep  company  with  you, 
sir ;  and  as  soon  as  it  is  dark,  I  intend  to  send  you  into 
Plymouth  under  the  frigate's  convoy.  Is  she  a  nice  ship, 
hey!  Daley?" 

"  Why,  Sir  Gervaise,  she 's  like  a  piece  of  broken  crock 
ery,  just  now,  and  one  can't  tell  all  her  merits.  She 's  not 
a  bad  goer,  and  weatherly,  I  think,  all  will  call  her.  But 
she 's  thundering  French,  inside." 

"  We  '11  make  her  English  in  due  time,  sir.  How  are  the 
leaks  ?  do  the  pumps  work  freely  1 

"  Deuce  the  Pake  has  she,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  the  pumps 
suck  like  a  nine  months'  babby.  And  if  they  didn't,  we  're 
scarce  the  boys  to  find  out  the  contrary,  being  but  nineteen 
working  hands." 

"  Very  well,  Daly ;  you  can  haul  aboard  your  main-tack, 
now ;  remember,  you  're  to  go  into  Plymouth,  as  soon  as  it 
is  dark.  If  you  see  anything  of  Admiral  Blue  water,  tell 
him  I  rely  on  his  support,  and  only  wait  for  his  appearance 
to  finish  Monsieur  de  Vervillin's  job." 

"I'll  do  all  that,  with  hearty  good  will,  sir.  Pray,  Sir 
Gervaise,"  added  Daly,  grinning,  on  the  poop  of  the  prize, 
whither  he  had  got  by  this  time,  having  walked  aft  as  his 
ship  went  ahead,  "  how  do  you  like  French  signals  ?  For 
want  of  a  better,  we  were  driven  to  the  classics  !" 

"  Ay,  you  'd  be  bothered  to  explain  all  your  own  flags,  I 
fancy.  The  name  of  the  ship  is  the  Victory,  I  am  told  ; 
why  did  you  put  her  in  armour,  and  whip  a  kedge  up  against 
the  poor  woman  ?" 

"  It 's  according  to  the  books,  Sir  Gervaise.  Every  word 
of  it  out  of  Cicero,  and  Cordairy,  and  Cornelius  Nepos,  and 
them  sort  of  fellows.  Oh !  I  went  to  school,  sir,  before  I 
went  to  sea,  as  you  say  yourself,  sometimes,  Sir  Gervaise; 
arid  literature  is  the  same  in  Ireland,  as  it  is  all  over  the 
world.  Victory  needs  armour,  sir,  in  order  to  be  victori 
ous,  and  the  anchor  is  to  show  that  she  doesn't  belong  to 
*  the  cut  and  run'  family.  I  am  as  sure  that  all  was  right, 
as  I  ever  was  of  my  moods  and  tenses." 

"  Very  well,  Daly,"  answered  Sir  Gervaise,  laughing — 
'•  My  lorda  shall  know  your  merits  in  that  way,  and  it  may 


384  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

get  you  named  a  professor — keep  your  luff,  or  you'll  bo 
down  on  our  sprit-sail-yard ;  —  remember  and  follow  the 
Druid." 

Here  tbe  gentlemen  waved  their  hands  in  adieu  as  usual, 
and  la  Victoire,  clipped  as  she  was  of  her  wings,  drew 
slowly  past.  The  Druid  succeeded,  and  Sir  Gervaise  sim 
ply  gave  Blewet  his  orders  to  see  the  prize  into  port,  and  to 
look  after  his  own  fore-mast.  This  ended  the  field  day  ; 
the  frigate  luffing  up  to  windward  of  the  line  again,  leaving 
the  Plantagenet  in  its  rear.  A  few  minutes  later,  the  latter 
ship  filled  and  stood  after  her  consorts. 

The  vice-admiral  having  now  ascertained,  in  the  most 
direct  manner,  the  actual  condition  of  his  fleet,  had  data  on 
which  to  form  his  plans  for  the  future.  But  for  the  letter 
from  Bluewater,  he  would  have  been  perfectly  happy ;  the 
success  of  the  day  having  infused  a  spirit  into  the  differ 
ent  vessels,  that,  of  itself,  was  a  pledge  of  more  important 
results.  Still  he  determined  to  act  as  if  that  letter  had 
never  been  written,  finding  it  impossible  to  believe  that  one 
who  had  so  long  been  true,  could  really  fail  him  in  the  hour 
of  need.  "  I  know  his  heart  better  than  he  knows  it  him 
self,"  he  caught  himself  mentally  exclaiming,  "  and  before 
either  of  us  is  a  day  older,  this  will  I  prove  to  him,  to  his 
confusion  and  my  triumph."  He  had  several  short  and 
broken  conversations  with  Wycherly  in  the  course  of  the 
afternoon,  with  a  view  to  ascertain,  if  possible,  the  real 
frame  of  mind  in  which  his  friend  had  written,  but  without 
success,  the  young  man  frankly  admitting  that,  owing  to  a 
confusion  of  thought  that  he  modestly  attributed  to  himself, 
but  which  Sir  Gervaise  well  knew  ought  in  justice  to  be  im 
puted  to  Bluewater,  he  had  not  been  able  to  bring  away  with 
him  any  very  clear  notions  of  the  rear-admiral's  intentions. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  elements  were  beginning  to  exhibit 
another  of  their  changeful  humours.  A  gale  in  summer  is 
seldom  of  long  duration,  and  twenty-four  hours  would  seem" 
to  be  the  period  which  nature  had  assigned  to  this.  The 
weather  had  moderated  materially  by  the  time  the  review 
had  taken  place,  and  five  hours  later,  not  only  had  the  sea 
subsided  to  a  very  reasonable  swell,  but  the  wind  had  haul 
ed  several  points  ;  coming  out  a  fresh  top-gallant  breeze  at 
north-west.  The  French  fleet  wore  soon  after,  standing 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  385 

about  north-east-by-north,  or  on  an  easy  bowline.  They 
had  been  active  in  repairing  damages,  and  the  admiral  was 
all  a-tanto  again,  with  everything  set  that  the  other  ships 
carried.  The  plight  of  le  Scipion  was  not  so  easily  reme 
died,  though  even  she  had  two  jury-masts  rigged,  assistance 
having  been  sent  from  the  other  vessels  as  soon  as  boats 
could  safely  pass.  As  the  sun  hung  in  the  western  sky, 
wanting  about  an  hour  of  disappearing  from  one  of  the  long 
summer  days  of  that  high  latitude,  this  ship  set  a  mizzen-top- 
sail  in  the  place  of  a  main,  and  a  fore-top-gallant-sail  in 
lieu  of  a  mizzen-top-sail.  Thus  equipped,  she  was  enabled 
to  keep  company  with  her  consorts,  all  of  which  were  un 
der  easy  canvass,  waiting  for  the  night  to  cover  their  move 
ments. 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  had  made  the  signal  for  his  fleet  to 
tack  in  succession,  from  the  rear  to  the  van,  about  an  hour 
before  le  Scipion  had  obtained  this  additional  sail.  The 
order  was  executed  with  great  readiness,  and,  as  the  ships 
had  been  looking  up  as  high  as  west-south-west  before, 
when  they  got  round,  and  headed  north-north-east,  their 
line  of  sailing  was  still  quite  a  league  to  windward  of  that 
of  the  enemy.  As  each  vessel  filled  on  the  larboard  tack, 
she  shortened  sail  to  allow  the  ships  astern  to  keep  away, 
and  close  to  her  station.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say, 
that  this  change  again  brought  the  Plantagenet  to  the  head 
of  the  line,  with  the  Warspite,  however,  instead  of  the  Car- 
natic,  for  her  second  astern  ;  the  latter  vessel  being  quite  in 
the  rear. 

It  was  a  glorious  afternoon,  and  there  was  every  promise 
of  as  fine  a  night.  Still,  as  there  were  but  about  six  hours 
of  positive  darkness  at  that  season  of  the  year,  and  the 
moon  would  rise  at  midnight,  the  vice-admiral  knew  he  had 
no  time  to  lose,  if  he  would  effect  anything  under  the  cover 
of  obscurity.  Reefs  were  no  longer  used,  though  all  the 
ships  were  under  short  canvass,  in  order  to  accommodate 
their  movements  to  those  of  the  prize.  The  latter,  however, 
was  now  in  tew  of  the  Druid,  and,  as  this  frigate  carried 
her  top-gallant-sails,  aided  by  her  own  courses,  la  Victoire 
was  enabled  not  only  to  keep  up  with  the  fleet,  then -under 
whole  top-sails,  but  to  maintain  her  weatherly  position.  Such 
was  the  state  of  things  just  as  the  sun  dipped,  the  enemy 
33 


386  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

being  on  the  lee  bow,  distant  one  and  a  half  leagues,  when 
the  Plantagenet  showed  a  signal  for  the  whole  fleet  to  heave 
to,  with  the  main-top-sails  to  the  masts.  This  command 
was  scarcely  executed,  when  the  officers  on  deck  were  sur 
prised  to  hear  a  boatswain's  mate  piping  away  the  crew  of  the 
vice-admiral's  barge,  or  that  of  the  boat  which  was  appro 
priated  to  the  particular  service  of  the  commander-in-chief. 

**  Did  I  hear  aright,  Sir  Gervaise  7"  inquired  Greenly, 
with  curiosity  and  interest ;  "  is  it  your  wish  to  have  your 
barge  manned,  sir?" 

"  You  heard  perfectly  right,  Greenly ;  and,  if  disposed 
for  a  row  this  fine  evening,  I  shall  ask  the  favour  of  your 
company.  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  as  you  are  an  idler 
here,  I  have  a  flag-officer's  right  to  press  you  into  my  service. 
By  the  way,  Greenly,  I  have  made  out  and  signed  an  order 
to  this  gentleman  to  report  himself  to  you,  as  attached  to 
my  family,  as  the  soldiers  call  it ;  as  soon  as  Atwood  has 
copied  it,  it  will  be  handed  to  him,  when  I  beg  you  will  con 
sider  him  as  my  first  aid." 

To  this  no  one  could  object,  and  Wycherly  made  a  bow 
of  acknowledgment.  At  that  instant  the  barge  was  seen 
swinging  off  over  the  ship's  waist,  and,  at  the  next,  the  yard 
tackles  were  heard  overhauling  themselves.  The  splash  of 
the  boat  in  the  water  followed.  The  crew  was  in  her,  with 
oars  on  end,  and  poised  boat-hooks,  in  another  minute.  The 
guard  presented,  the  boatswain  piped  over,  the  drum  rolled, 
and  Wycherly  jumped  to  the  gangway  and  was  out  of  sight 
quick  as  thought.  Greenly  and  Sir  Gervaise  followed,  when 
the  boat  shoved  off. 

Although  the  seas  had  greatly  subsided,  and  their  combs 
were  no  longer  dangerous,  the  Atlantic  was  far  from  being 
as  quiet  as  a  lake  in  a  summer  eventide.  At  the  very  first 
dash  of  the  oars  the  barge  rose  on  a  long,  heavy  swell  that 
buoyed  her  up  like  a  bubble,  and  as  the  water  glided  from 
under  her  again,  it  seemed  as  if  she  was  about  to  sink  into 
some  cavern  of  the  ocean.  Few  things  give  more  vivid  im 
pressions  of  helplessness  than  boats  thus  tossed  by  the  wa 
ters  when  not  in  their  raging  humours ;  for  one  is  apt  to 
expect  better  treatment  than  thus  to  be  made  the  plaything 
of  the  element.  All,  however,  who  have  ever  floated  on 
even  the  most  quiet  ocean,  must  have  experienced  more  or 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  387 

less  of  this  helpless  dependence,  the  stoutest  boat,  impelled 
by  the  lustiest  crews,  appearing  half  the  time  like  a  fea 
ther  floating  in  capricious  currents  of  the  air. 

'.The  occupants  of  the  barge,  however,  were  too  familiar 
with  their  situation  to  think  much  of  these  matters ;  and,  as 
soon  as  Sir  Gervaise  had  assenled  to  Wycherly's  offer  to 
take  the  tiller,  he  glanced  upward,  with  a  critical  eye,  in 
order  to  scan  the  Plantagenet's  appearance. 

"  That  fellow,  Morganic,  has  got  a  better  excuse  for  his 
xebec-rig  than  I  had  supposed,  Greenly,"  he  said,  after  a 
minute  of  observation.  "  Your  fore-top-mast  is  at  least 
six  inches  too  far  forward,  and  I  beg  you  will  have  it  stayed 
aft  to-morrow  morning,  if  the  weather  permit.  None  of 
your  Mediterranean  craft  for  me,  in  the  narrow  seas." 

"Very  well,  Sir  Gervaise;  the  spar  shall  be  righted  in 
the  morning  watch,"  quietly  returned  the  captain. 

"  Now,  there 's  Goodfellow,  half-parson  as  he  is  ;  the 
man  contrives  to  keep  his  sticks  more  upright  than  any  cap 
tain  in  the  fleet.  You  never  see  a  spar  half  an  inch  out  of 
its  place,  on  board  the  Warspite." 

"  That  is  because  her  captain  trims  everything  by  his  own 
life,  sir,"  rejoined  Greenly,  smiling.  "  Were  we  half  as 
good  as  he  is,  in  other  matters,  we  might  be  better  than  we 
are  in  seamanship." 

"  I  do  not  think  religion  hurts  a  sailor,  Greenly — no,  not 
in  the  least.  That  is  to  say,  when  he  don't  wedge  his  masts 
too  tight,  but  leaves  play  enough  for  all  weathers.  There 
is  no  cant  in  Goodfellow." 

"  Not  the  least  of  it,  sir,  and  that  it  is  which  makes  him 
so  great  a  favourite.  The  chaplain  of  the  Warspite  is  of 
some  use  ;  but  one  might  as  well  have  a  bowsprit  rigged  out 
of  a  cabin-window,  as  have  our  chap." 

"  Why,  we  never  bury  a  man,  Greenly,  without  putting 
him  into  the  water  as  a  Christian  should  be,"  returned  Sir 
Gervaise,  with  the  simplicity  of  a  true  believer  of  the  decency 
school.  "  I  hate  to  see  a  seaman  tossed  intd  the  ocean  like 
a  bag  of  old  clothes." 

"  We  get  along  with  that  part  of  the  duty  pretty  well ;  but 
before  a  man  is  dead,  the  parson  is  of  opinion  that  he  belongs 
altogether  to  the  doctor." 

"  I  'd  bet  a  hundred  guineas,  Magrath  has  had  some  influ- 


388  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

ence  over  him,  in  this  matter — give  the  Blenheim  a  wider 
berth,  Sir  Wycherly,  I  wish  to  see  how  she  looks  aloft — 

he 's  a  d d  fellow,  that  Magrath," — no  one  swore  in  Sir 

Gervaise's  boat  but  himself,  when  the  vice-admiral's  flag  Vas 
flying  in  her  bows; — "  and  he's  just  the  sort  of  man  to  put 
such  a  notion  into  the  chaplain's  head." 

"  Why,  there,  I  believe  you  're  more  than  half  right,  Sir 
Gervaise ;  I  overheard  a  conversation  between  them  one 
dark  night,  when  they  were  propping  the  mizzen-mast  under 
the  break  of  the  poop,  and  the  surgeon  did  maintain  a  theory 
very  like  that  you  mention,  sir." 

"  Ah  !— he  did,  did  he  ?  It 's  just  like  the  Scotch  rogue, 
who  wanted  to  persuade  me  that  your  poor  uncle,  Sir  Wy 
cherly,  ought  not  to  have  been  blooded,  in  as  clear  a  case 
of  apoplexy  as  ever  was  met  with." 

"  Well,  I  didn't  think  he  could  have  carried  his  impudence 
as  far  as  that,"  observed  Greenly,  whose  medical  know 
ledge  was  about  on  a  par  with  that  of  Sir  Gervaise.  "  I 
didn't  think  even  a  doctor  would  dare  to  hold  such  a  doc 
trine  !  As  for  the  chaplain,  to  him  he  laid  down  the  prin 
ciple  that  religion  and  medicine  never  worked  well  together. 
He  said  religion  was  an  '  alterative,'  and  would  neutralize  a 
salt  as  quick  as  fire." 

"  He 's  a  great  vagabond,  that  Magrath,  when  he  gets  hold 
of  a  young  hand,  sir ;  and  I  wish  with  all  my  heart  the 
Pretender  had  him,  with  two  or  three  pounds  of  his  favourite 
medicines  with  him  —  I  think,  between  the  two,  England 
might,  reap  some  advantage,  Greenly. — Now,  to  my  notion, 
Wychecombe,  the  Blenheim  would  make  better  weather,  if 
her  masts  were  shortened  at  least  two  feet." 

"  Perhaps  she  might,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  but  would  she  be  as 
certain  a  ship,  in  coming  into  action  in  light  winds  and  at 
critical  moments  ?" 

"  Umph  !  It 's  time  for  us  old  fellows  to  look  about  us, 
Greenly,  when  the  boys  begin  to  reason  on  a  line  of  battle ! 
Don't  blush,  Wychecombe  ;  don't  blush.  Your  remark  was 
sensible,  and  shows  reflection.  No  country  can  ever  have 
a  powerful  marine,  or,  one  likely  to  produce  much  influence 
in  her  wars,  that  does  not  pay  rigid  attention  to  the  tactics 
of  fleets.  Your  frigate  actions  and  sailing  of  single  ships, 
are  well  enough  as  drill ;  but  the  great  practice  must  be  in 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  389 

squadron.  Ten  heavy  ships,  in  good  feet  discipline,  and 
kept  at  sea,  will  do  more  than  a  hundred  single  cruisers,  in 
establishing  and  maintaining  discipline ;  and  it  is  only  by 
using  vessels  together,  that  we  find  out  what  both  ships  and 
men  can  do.  Now,  we  owe  the  success  of  this  day,  to  our 
practice  of  sailing  in  close  order,  and  in  knowing  how  to 
keep  our  stations  ;  else  would  six  ships  never  have  been  able 
to  carry  away  the  palm  of  victory  from  twelve — palm  ! — 
Ay,  that 's  the  very  word,  Greenly,  I  was  trying  to  think 

of  this  morning.     Daly's  d d  paddy  should  have  had  a 

palm-branch  in  its  hand,  as  an  emblem  of  Victory  !" 


CHAPTEE  XXYI. 

tt  He  that  has  sailed  upon  the  dark-blue  sea, 
Has  viewed  at  times,  I  ween,  a  full  fair  sight; 
When  the  fresh  breeze  is  fair  as  breeze  may  be, 
The  white  sail  set,  the  gallant  frigate  tight ; 
Mast,  spires  and  strand,  retiring  to  the  sight, 
The  glorious  main  expanding  o'er  the  bow, 
The  convoy  spread  like  wild  swans  in  their  flight, 
The  dullest  sailer  waring  bravely  now, 
So  gaily  curl  the  waves  before  each  dashing  prow." 

BYRON. 

As  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes'  active  mind  was  liable  to  such 
sudden  mutations  of  thought  as  that  described  in  the  close 
of  the  last  chapter,  Greenly  neither  smiled,  nor  dwelt  on  the 
subject  at  all ;  he  simply  pointed  out  to  his  superior  the  fact, 
that  they  were  now  abreast  of  the  Thunderer,  and  desired 
to  know  whether  it  was  his  pleasure  to  proceed  any  further. 

"  To  the  Carnatic,  Greenly,  if  Sir  Wycherly  will  have 
the  goodness  to  shape  his  course  thither.  I  have  a  word  to 
say  to  my  friend  Parker,  before  we  sleep  to-night.  Give  us 
room,  however,  to  look  at  Morganic's  fancies,  for  I  never 
pass  his  ship  without  learning  something  new.  Lord  Mor- 
33* 


390  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ganic's  vessel  is  a  good  school  for  us  old  fellows  to  attend— 
hey!  Greenly?" 

"  The  Achilles  is  certainly  a  model  vessel  in  some  re 
spects,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  I  flatter  myself  the  Plantage- 
nets  have  no  great  occasion  to  imitate  her,  in  order  to  gain 
a  character." 

"  You  imitate  Morganic  in  order  to  know  how  to  keep  a 
ship  in  order ! — Poh  !  let  Morganic  come  to  school  to  you. 
Yet  the  fellow  is  not  bashful  in  battle  neither ;  keeps  his  sta 
tion  well,  and  makes  himself  both  heard  and  felt.  Ah ! 
there  he  is,  flourishing  his  hat  on  the  poop,  and  wondering 
what  the  deuce  Sir  Jarvy's  after,  now  !  Sheer  in,  Wyche- 
combe,  and  let  us  hear  what  he  has  to  say." 

"  Good  evening,  Sir  Gervaise,"  called  out  the  earl,  as 
usual  taking  the  initiative  in  the  discourse  ;  "  I  was  in  hopes 
when  I  saw  your  flag  in  the  boat,  that  you  were  going  to  do 
me  the  favour  to  open  a  bottle  of  claret,  and  to  taste  some 
fruit,  I  have  still  standing  on  the  table." 

"  I  thank  you,  my  lord,  but  business  before  pleasure.  We 
have  not  been  idle  to-day,  though  to-morrow  shall  be  still 
more  busy.  How  does  the  Achilles  steer,  now  her  foremast 
is  in  its  place  ?" 

"  Yaws  like  a  fellow  with  his  grog  aboard,  Sir  Gervaise, 
on  my  honour  !  We  shall  never  do  anything  with  her,  until 
you  consent  to  let  us  stay  her  spars,  in  our  own  fashion. 
Do  you  intend  to  send  me  Daly  back,  or  am  I  to  play  first 
lieutenant  myself,  admiral  ?" 

"  Daly  's  shipped  for  the  cruise,  and  you  must  do  as  well 
as  you  can  without  him.  If  you  find  yourself  without  a 
second  astern,  in  the  course  of  the  night,  do  not  fancy  she 
has  gone  to  the  bottom.  Keep  good  look-outs,  and  pay  at 
tention  to  signals." 

As  Sir  Gervaise  waved  his  hand,  the  young  noble  did  not 
venture  to  reply,  much  less  to  ask  a  question,  though  there 
was  not  a  little  speculation  on  the  poop  of  the  Achilles,  con 
cerning  the  meaning  of  his  words.  The  boat  moved  on, 
and  five  minutes  later  Sir  Gervaise  was  on  the  quarter-deck 
of  the  Carnatic. 

Parker  received  the  commander-in-chief,  hat  in  hand,  with 
a  solicitude  and  anxiety  that  were  constitutional,  perhaps, 
and  wh'ch  no  consciousness  of  deserving  could  entirely  ap- 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  391 

pease.  Habit,  however,  had  its  share  in  it,  since,  accus 
tomed  to  defer  to  rank  from  boyhood,  and  the  architect  of 
his  own  "  little  fortune,"  he  had  ever  attached  more  import- 
ance  to  the  commendation  of  his  superior,  than  was  usual 
with  those  who  had  other  props  to  lean  on  than  their  own 
services.  As  soon  as  the  honours  of  the  quarter-deck  had 
been  duly  paid — for  these  Sir  Gervaise  never  neglected  him 
self,  nor  allowed  others  to  neglect — the  vice-admiral  inti 
mated  to  Captain  Parker  a  desire  to  see  him  in  his  cabin, 
requesting  Greenly  and  Wycherly  to  accompany  them 
below. 

"  Upon  my  word,  Parker,"  commenced  Sir  Gervaise,  look 
ing  around  him  at  the  air  of  singular  domestic  comfort  that 
the  after-cabin  of  the  ship  presented,  "  you  have  a  knack  of 
taking  a  house  to  sea  with  you,  that  no  other  captain  of  the 
fleet  possesses !  No  finery,  no  Morganics,  but  a  plain, 
wholesome,  domestic  look,  that  might  make  a  man  believe 
he  was  in  his  father's  house.  I  would  give  a  thousand 
pounds  if  my  vagabonds  could  give  the  cabin  of  the  Plan- 
tagenet  such  a  Bowldero-look,  now !" 

"  Less  than  a  hundred,  sir,  have  done  the  little  you  see 
here.  Mrs.  Parker  makes  it  a  point  to  look  to  those  matters, 
herself,  and  in  that  lies  the  whole  secret,  perhaps.  A  good 
wife  is  a  great  blessing,  Sir  Gervaise,  though  you  have 
never  been  able  to  persuade  yourself  into  the  notion,  I  be 
lieve." 

"  I  hardly  think,  Parker,  the  wife  can  do  it  all.  Now 
there's  Stowel,  Bluewater's  captain,  he  is  married  as  well 
as  yourself — nay,  by  George,  I've  heard  the  old  fellow  say 
he  had  as  much  wife  as  any  man  in  his  majesty's  service — 
but  his  cabin  looks  like  a  cobbler's  barn,  and  his  state-room 
like  a  soldier's  bunk  !  When  we  were  lieutenants  together 
in  the  Eurydice,  Parker,  your  state-room  had  just  the  same 
air  of  comfort  about  it  that  this  cabin  has  at  this  instant. 
No — no — it's  in  the  grain,  man,  or  it  never  would  show 
itself,  in  all  times  and  places." 

"  You  forget,  Sir  Gervaise,  that  when  I  had  the  honour 
to  be  your  messmate  in  the  Eurydice,  I  was  a  married  man." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  my  old  friend  ;  so  you  were,  indeed  I 
Why,  that  was  a  confounded  long  time  ago,  hey !  Parker  !" 

"  It  was,  truly,  sir ;  but  I  was  poor,  and  could  not  afford 


392  7  HE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

the  extravagancies  of  a  single  life.  /  married  for  the  sake 
of  economy,  Admiral  Oakes." 

"  And  love — "  answered  Sir  Gervaise,  laughing.  "  1  Ml 
warrant  you,  Greenly,  that  he  persuaded  Mrs.  Parker  into 
that  notion,  whether  true  or  not.  I'll  warrant  you,  he 
didn't  tell  her  he  married  for  so  sneaking  a  thing  as  eco 
nomy  !  I  should  like  to  see  your  state-room  now,  Parker." 

"  Nothing  easier,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  captain, 
rising  and  opening  the  door.  "  Here  it  is,  sir,  though  little 
worthy  of  the  attention  of  the  owner  of  Bowldero." 

"  A  notable  place,  truly ! — and  with  a  housewife-look 
about  it  that  must  certainly  remind  you  of  Mrs.  Parker— 
jnless,  indeed,  that  picture  at  the  foot  of  your  cot  puts  other 
notions  into  your  head  !  What  young  hussy  have  you  got 
there,  my  old  Eurydice? — Hey! — Parker?" 

"  That  is  a  picture  of  my  faithful  wife,  Sir  Gervaise  ;  a 
proper  companion,  I  hope,  of  my  cruise  ?" 

"  Hey  !  What,  that  young  thing  your  wife,  Parker ! 
How  the  d — 1  came  she  to  have  you  ?" 

"  Ah,  Sir  Gervaise,  she  is  a  young  thing  no  longer,  but 
is  well  turned  towards  sixty.  The  picture  was  taken  when 
she  was  bride,  and  is  all  the  dearer  to  me,  now  that  I  know 
the  original  has  shared  my  fortunes  so  long.  I  never  look 
at  it,  without  remembering,  with  gratitude,  how  much  she 
thinks  of  me  in  our  cruises,  and  how  often  she  prays  for  our 
success.  You  are  not  forgotten,  either,  sir,  in  her  prayers." 

"  I !"  exclaimed  the  vice-admiral,  quite  touched  at  the 
earnest  simplicity  of  the  other.  "  D'ye  hear  that,  Greenly  ? 
I  Ml  engage,  now,  this  lady  is  a  good  woman — a  really  ex 
cellent  creature — just  such  another  as  my  poor  sainted 
mother  was,  and  a  blessing  to  all  around  her !  Give  me 
your  hand,  Parker  ;  and  when  you  write  next  to  your  wife, 
tell  her  from  me,  God  bless  her ;  and  say  all  you  think  a 
man  ought  to  say  on  such  an  occasion.  And  now  to  busi 
ness.  Let  us  seat  ourselves  in  this  snug  domestic-looking 
cabin  of  yours,  and  talk  our  matters  over." 

The  two  captains  and  Wycherly  followed  the  vice-admiral 
into  the  after-cabin,  where  the  latter  seated  himself  on  a 
small  sofa,  while  the  others  took  chairs,  in  respectful  atti 
tudes  near  him,  no  familiarity  or  jocularity  on  the  part  of  a 
naval  superior,  ever  lessening  the  distance  between  him  and 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  393 

these  who  hold  subordinate  commissions — a  fact  that  legis 
lators  would  do  well  to  remember,  when  graduating  rank  in 
a  service.  As  soon  as  all  were  placed.  Sir  Gervaise  opened 
his  mind. 

"  I  have  a  delicate  piece  of  duty,  Captain  Parker,"  he 
commenced,  "  which  I  wish  intrusted  to  yourself.  You 
must  know  that  we  handled  the  ship  which  escaped  us  this 
morning  by  running  down  into  her  own  line,  pretty  roughly, 
in  every  respect ;  besides  cutting  two  of  her  masts  out  of  her. 
This  ship,  as  you  may  have  seen,  has  got  up  jury-masts, 
already ;  but  they  are  spars  that  can  only  be  intended  to 
carry  her  into  port.  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  not  the  man  1 
take  him  to  be,  if  he  intends  to  leave  the  quarrel  between 
us  where  it  is.  Still  he  cannot  keep  that  crippled  ship  in 
his  fleet,  any  more  than  we  can  keep  our  prize,  and  I  make 
no  doubt  he  will  send  her  off*  to  Cherbourg  as  soon  as  it  is 
dark  ;  most  probably  accompanied  by  one  of  his  corvettes ; 
or  perhaps  by  a  frigate." 

"  Yes,  Sir  Gervaise,"  returned  Parker,  thoughtfully,  as 
soon  as  his  superior  ceased  to  speak ;  "  what  you  predict,  is 
quite  likely  to  happen." 

"  It  must  happen,  Parker,  the  wind  blowing  directly  for 
his  haven.  Now,  you  may  easily  imagine  what  I  want  of 
the  Carnatic." 

"  I  suppose  I  understand  you,  sir ; — and  yet,  if  I  might 
presume  to  express  a  wish — " 

"  Speak  out,  old  boy  —  you  're  talking  to  a  friend.  I 
have  chosen  you  to  serve  you,  both  as  one  I  like,  and  as  the 
oldest  captain  in  the  fleet.  Whoever  catches  that  ship  will 
hear  more  of  it." 

"  Very  true,  sir ;  but  are  we  not  likely  to  have  more 
work,  here?  and  would  it  be  altogether  prudent  to  send  so 
fine  a  ship  as  the  Carnatic  away,  when  the  enemy  will  count 
ten  to  six,  even  if  she  remain  ?" 

"  All  this  has  been  thought  of;  and  I  suppose  your  own 
feeling  has  been  anticipated.  You  think  it  will  be  more 
honourable  to  your  vessel,  to  keep  her  place  in  the  line,  than 
to  take  a  ship  already  half  beaten." 

"That's  it,  indeed,  Sir  Gervaise.  I  do  confess  some 
such  thoughts  were  crossing  my  mind." 

"  Then  see  how  easy  it  is  to  rowse  them  out  of  it.     I  can 


394  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

not  fight  the  French,  in  this  moderate  weather,  without  a 
reinforcement.  When  the  rear  joins,  we  shall  be  just  ten  to 
ten,  without  you,  and  with  you,  should  be  eleven  to  ten. 
Now,  I  confess,  I  don't  wish  the  least  odds,  and  shall  send 
away  somebody  ;  especially  when  I  feel  certain  a  noble  two- 
decked  ship  will  be  the  reward.  If  a  frigate  accompany  the 
crippled  fellow,  you'll  have  your  hands  full,  and  a  very  fair 
fight;  and  should  you  get  either,  it  will  be  a  handsome 
thing.  What  say  you  now?,  Parker  ?" 

"  I  begin  to  think  better  of  the  plan,  Sir  Gervaise,  and 
am  grateful  for  the  selection.  I  wish,  however,  I  knew  your 
own  precise  wishes — I  've  always  found  it  safe  to  follow 
them,  sir." 

"  Here  they  are,  then.  Get  four  or  five  sets  of  the  sharp 
est  eyes  you  have,  and  send  them  aloft  to  keep  a  steady  look 
on  your  chap,  while  there  is  light  enough  to  be  certain  of 
him.  In  a  little  while,  they  '11  be  able  to  recognise  him  in 
the  dark ;  and  by  keeping  your  night-glasses  well  levelled, 
he  can  scarcely  slip  off,  without  your  missing  him.  The 
moment  he  is  gone,  ware  short  round,  and  make  the  best  of 
your  way  for  Cape  la  Hogue,  or  Alderney  ;  you  will  go 
three  feet  to  his  two,  and,  my  life  on  it,  by  daylight  you  '11 
have  him  to  windward  of  you,  and  then  you  '11  be  certain  of 
him.  Wait  for  no  signals  from  me,  but  be  off,  as  soon  as 
it  is  dark.  When  your  work  is  done,  make  the  best  of 
your  way  to  the  nearest  English  port,  and  clap  a.  Scotch 
man  on  your  shoulder  to  keep  the  king's  sword  from  chafing 
it.  They  thoughi  me  fit  for  knighthood  at  three-and-twenty, 
and  the  deuce  is  in  it,  Parker,  if  you  are  not  worthy  of  it, 
at  three-and-sixty !" 

"  Ah !  Sir  Gervaise,  everything  you  undertook  succeeded ! 
You  never  yet  failed  in  any  expedition." 

"  That  has  come  from  attempting  much.  My  plans  have 
often  failed ;  but  as  something  good  has  generally  followed 
from  them,  I  have  the  credit  of  designing  to  do,  exactly  what 
I  've  done." 

Then  followed  a  long,  detailed  discourse,  on  the  subject 
before  them,  in  which  Greenly  joined ;  the  latter  making 
several  useful  suggestions  to  the  veteran  commander  of  the 
Carnatic.  After  passing  quite  an  hour  in  the  cabin  of 
Parker,  Sir  Gervaise  took  his  leave  and  re-entered  his  barge. 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  395 

It  was  now  so  dark  that  small  objects  could  not  be  distin 
guished  a  hundred  yards,  and  tho  piles  of  ships,  as  the  boat 
glided  past  them,  resembled  black  hillocks,  with  clouds  float 
ing  among  their  tree-like  and  waving  spars.  No  captain 
presumed  to  hail  the  commander-in-chief,  as  he  rowed  down 
the  line,  again,  with  the  exception  of  the  peer  of  the  realm. 
He  indeed  had  always  something  to  say ;  and,  as  he  had 
been  conjecturing  what  could  induce  the  vice-admiral  to  pay 
so  long  a  visit  to  the  Carnatic,  he  could  not  refrain  from 
uttering  as  much  aloud,  when  he  heard  the  measured  stroke 
of  the  oars  from  the  returning  barge. 

"  We  shall  all  be  jealous  of  this  compliment  to  Captain 
Parker,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  called  out,  "  unless  your  favours 
are  occasionally  extended  to  some  of  us  less  worthy  ones." 

"  Ay — ay — Morganic,  you  '11  be  remembered  in  proper 
time.  In  the  meanwhile,  keep  your  people's  eyes  open,  so 
as  not  to  lose  sight  of  the  French.  We  shall  have  some 
thing  to  say  to  them  in  the  morning.1' 

"  Spare  us  a  night-action,  if  possible,  Sir  Gervaise  !  I  do 
detest  fighting  when  sleepy ;  and  I  like  to  see  my  enemy, 
too.  As  much  as  you  please  in  the  day-time  ;  but  a  quiet 
night,  I  do  beseech  you,  sir." 

"  I  '11  warrant  you,  now,  if  the  opera,  or  Ranelagh,  or  a 
drum,  or  a  masquerade,  were  inviting  you,  Morganic,  you'd 
think  but  little  of  your  pillow !"  answered  Sir  Gervaise, 
drily ;  "  whatever  you  do  yourself,  my  lord,  don't  let  the 
Achilles  get  asleep  on  duty ;  I  may  have  need  of  her  to 
morrow.  Give  way,  Wychecombe,  give  way,  and  let  us 
get  home  again." 

In  fifteen  minutes  from  that  instant,  Sir  Gervaise  was 
once  more  on  the  poop  of  the  Plantagenet,  and  the  barge  in 
its  place  on  deck.  Greenly  was  attending  to  the  duties  of 
his  ship,  and  Bunting  stood  in  readiness  to  circulate  such 
orders  as  it  might  suit  the  commander-in-chief  to  give. 

It  was  now  nine  o'clock,  and  it  was  not  easy  to  distin 
guish  obJ3cts  on  the  ocean,  even  as  large  as  a  ship,  at  the 
distance  of  half  a  league.  By  the  aid  of  the  glasses,  how 
ever,  a  vigilant  look-out  was  kept  on  the  French  vessels, 
which,  by  this  time,  were  quite  two  leagues  distant,  draw 
ing  more  ahead.  It  was  necessary  to  fill  away,  in  order  to 
close  with  them,  and  a  night-signal  Was  made  to  that  effect. 


396  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

The  whole  British  line  braced  forward  their  main-yards,  as 
it  might  be,  by  a  common  impulse,  and  had  there  been  one 
there  of  sufficiently  acute  senses,  he  might  have  heard  alJ 
six  of  the  main-top-sails  flapping  at  the  same  instant.  As 
a  matter  of  course  the  vessels  started  ahead,  and,  the  order 
being  to  follow  the  vice-admiral  in  a  close  line  ahead,  when 
the  Plantagenet  edged  off,  so  as  to  bring  the  wind  abeam, 
each  vessel  did  the  same,  in  succession,  or  as  soon  as  in  the 
commander-in-chief's  wake,  as  if  guided  by  instinct.  About 
ten  minutes  later,  the  Carnatic,  to  the  surprise  of  those  who 
witnessed  the  manoeuvre  in  the  Achilles,  wore  short  round, 
and  set  studding-sails  on  her  starboard  side,  steering  large. 
The  darkest  portion  of  the  horizon  being  that  which  lay  to 
the  eastward,  or,  in  the  direction  of  the  continent,  in  twenty 
minutes  the  pyramid  of  her  shadowy  outline  was  swallowed 
in  the  gloom.  All  this  time,  la  Victoire,  with  the  Druid  lead 
ing  and  towing,  kept  upon  a  bowline ;  and  an  hour  later, 
when  Sir  Gervaise  found  himself  abeam  of  the  French  line 
again,  and  half  a  league  to  windward  of  it,  no  traces  were 
to  be  seen  of  the  three  ships  last  mentioned. 

"  So  far,  all  goes  well,  gentlemen,"  observed  the  vice-ad 
miral  to  the  group  around  him  on  the  poop ;  "  and  we  will 
now  try  to  count  the  enemy,  to  make  certain  he,  too,  has  no 
stragglers  out  to  pick  up  waifs.  Greenly,  try  that  glass ; 
it  is  set  for  the  night,  and  your  eyes  are  the  best  we  have. 
Be  particular  in  looking  for  the  fellow  under  jury-masts." 

"  I  make  out  but  ten  ships  in  the  line,  Sir  Gervaise,"  an 
swered  the  captain,  after  a  long  examination ;  "  of  course 
the  crippled  ship  must  have  gone  to  leeward.  Of  her,  cer 
tainly,  I  can  find  no  traces." 

"  You  will  oblige  me,  Sir  Wycherly,  by  seeing  what  you 
can  make  out,  in  the  same  way." 

After  a  still  longer  examination  than  that  of  the  captain, 
Wycherly  made  the  same  report,  adding  that  he  thought  ho 
also  missed  the  frigate  that  had  been  nearest  le  Foudroyant, 
repeating  her  signals  throughout  the  day-  This  circum 
stance  gratified  Sir  Gervaise,  as  he  was  pleased  to  find  his 
prognostics  came  true,  and  he  was  not  sorry  to  be  rid  of  one 
of  the  enemy's  light  cruisers;  a  species  of  vessel  that  often 
proved  enrbarrassing,  after  a  decided  affair,  even  to  the  con 
queror. 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  397 

"  I  think,  Sir  Gervaise,"  Wycherly  modestly  added,  "  that 
the  French  have  boarded  their  tacks,  and  are  pressing  up 
to  windward  to  near  us.  Did  it  not  appear  so  to  you,  Cap 
tain  Greenly  ?" 

"  Not  at  all.  If  they  carry  courses,  the  sails  have  been 
set  within  the  last  five  minutes — ha !  Sir  Gervaise,  that  is 
an  indication  of  a  busy  night!" 

As  he  spoke,  Greenly  pointed  to  the  place  where  the 
French  admiral  was  known  to  be,  where  at  that  instant  ap 
peared  a  double  row  of  lights  ;  proving  that  the  batteries 
had  their  lanterns  lit,  and  showing  a  disposition  to  engage. 
In  less  than  a  minute  the  whole  French  line  was  to  be  traced 
along  the  sea,  by  the  double  rows  of  illumination,  the  light 
resembling  that  which  is  seen  through  the  window  of  a 
room  that  has  a  bright  fire,  rather  than  one  in  which  lamps 
or  candles  are  actually  visible.  As  this  was  just  the  species 
of  engagement  in  which  the  English  had  much  to  risk,  and 
little  to  gain,  Sir  Gervaise  immediately  gave  orders  to  brace 
forward  the  yards,  to  board  fore-and-main  tacks,  and  to  set 
top-gallant-sails.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  ships  astern 
made  sail  in  the  same  manner,  and  hauled  up  on  taut  bow 
lines,  following  the  admiral. 

"  This  is  not  our  play,"  coolly  remarked  Sir  Gervaise  ; 
"  a  crippled  ship  would  drop  directly  into  their  arms,  and  as 
for  any  success  at  long-shot,  in  a  two-to-one  fight,  it  is  not 
to  be  looked  for.  No — no — Monsieur  de  Vervillin,  show  us 
your  teeth  if  you  will,  and  a  pretty  sight  it  is,  but  you  do 
not  draw  a  shot  from  me.  I  hope  the  order  to  show  no 
lights  is  duly  attended  to." 

"  I  do  not  think  there  is  a  light  visible  from  any  ship  in  the 
fleet,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  Bunting,  "  though  we  are  so 
near  there  can  be  no  great  difficulty  in  telling  where  we 
are." 

"  All  but  the  Carnatic  and  the  prize,  Bunting.  The  more 
fuss  they  make  with  us,  the  less  will  they  think  of  them." 

It  is  probable  the  French  admiral  had  been  deceived  by 
the  near  approach  of  his  enemy,  for  whose  prowess  he  had 
a  profound  respect.  He  had  made  his  preparations  in  ex 
pectation  of  an  attack,  but  he  did  not  open  his  fire,  although 
heavy  shot  would  certainly  have  told  with  effect.  Indis 
posed  to  the  uncertainty  of  a  night-action,  he  declined  bring* 
34 


398  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ing  it  on,  and  the  lights  disappeared  from  his  ports  an  hour 
later  ;  at  that  time  the  English  ships,  by  carrying  sail  hard 
er  than  was  usual  in  so  stiff  a  breeze,  found  themselves  out 
of  gun-shot,  on  the  weather-bow  of  their  enemies.  Then, 
and  not  till  then,  did  Sir  Gervaise  reduce  his  canvass,  hav 
ing,  by  means  of  his  glasses,  first  ascertained  that  the  French 
had  again  hauled  up  their  courses,  and  were  moving  along 
at  a  very  easy  rate  of  sailing. 

It  was  now  near  midnight,  and  Sir  Gervaise  prepared  to 
go  below.  Previously  to  quitting  the  deck,  however,  he 
gave  very  explicit  orders  to  Greenly,  who  transmitted  them 
to  the  first  lieutenant,  that  officer  or  the  captain  intending 
to  be  on  the  look-out  through  the  night ;  the  movements  of 
the  whole  squadron  being  so  dependent  on  those  of  the  flag 
ship.  The  vice-admiral  then  retired,  and  went  coolly  to  bed. 
He  was  not  a  man  to  lose  his  rest,  because  an  enemy  was 
just  out  of  gun-shot.  Accustomed  to  be  mano3uvring  in 
front  of  hostile  fleets,  the  situation  had  lost  its  novelty,  arid 
he  had  so  much  confidence  in  the  practice  of  his  captains, 
that  he  well  knew  nothing  could  occur  so  long  as  his  orders 
were  obeyed ;  to  doubt  the  latter  would  have  been  heresy 
in  his  eyes.  In  professional  nonchalance,  no  man  exceeded 
our  vice-admiral.  Blow  high,  or  blow  low,  it  never  dis 
turbed  the  economy  of  his  cabin-life,  beyond  what  unavoid 
ably  was  connected  with  the  comfort  of  the  ship  ;  nor  did 
any  prospect  of  battle  cause  a  meal  to  vary  a  minute  in 
time,  or  a  particle  in  form,  until  the  bulk-heads  were  actu 
ally  knocked  down,  and  the  batteries  were  cleared  for  ac 
tion.  Although  excitable  in  trifles,  and  sometimes  a  little 
irritable,  Sir  Gervaise,  in  the  way  of  his  profession,  was  a 
great  man  on  great  occasions.  His  temperament  was  san 
guine,  and  his  spirit  both  decided  and  bold ;  and,  in  com 
mon  with  all  such  men  who  see  the  truth  at  all,  when  he 
did  see  it,  he  saw  it  so  clearly,  as  to  throw  all  the  doubts 
that  beset  minds  of  a  less  masculine  order  into  the  shade. 
On  the  present  occasion,  he  was  sure  nothing  could  well 
occur  to  disturb  his  rest ;  and  he  took  it  with  the  composure 
of  one  on  terra-frma,  and  in  the  security  of  peace.  Unlike 
those  who  are  unaccustomed  to  scenes  of  excitement,  he 
quietly  undressed  himself,  and  his  head  was  no  soor.er  on 
its  pillow,  than  he  fell  into  a  profound  sleep. 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  399 

It  would  have  been  a  curious  subject  of  observation  to  an 
inexperienced  person,  to  note  the  manner  in  which  the  two 
fleets  manoeuvred  throughout  that  night.  After  several 
hours  of  ineffectual  efforts  to  bring  their  enemies  fairly  with 
in  reach  of  their  guns,  alter  the  moon  had  risen,  the  French 
gave  the  matter  up  for  a  time,  shortening  sail  while  most  of 
their  superior  officers  caught  a  little  rest. 

The  sun  was  just  rising,  as  Galley  go  laid  his  hand  on 
the  shoulder  of  the  vice-admiral,  agreeably  to  orders  given 
the  previous  night.  The  touch  sufficed ;  Sir  Gervaise  being 
wide  awake  in  an  instant.  "  Well,"  he  said,  rising  to  a  sitting 
attitude,  and  putting  the  question  which  first  occurs  to  a 
seaman,  "  how  's  the  weather  ?" 

"  A  good  top-gallant  breeze,  Sir  Jarvy,  and  just  what 's 
this  ship's  play.  If  you'd  only  let  her  out,  and  on  them 
Johnny  Crapauds,  she  'd  be  down  among  'em,  in  half  an 
hour,  like  a  hawk  upon  a  chicken.  I  ought  to  report  to 
your  honour,  that  the  last  chicken  will  be  dished  for  break 
fast  unless  we  gives  an  order  to  the  gun-room  steward  to 
turn  us  over  some  of  his  birds,  as  pay  for  what  the  pigs  eat ; 
which  were  real  capons." 

"  Why,  you  pirate,  you  would  not  have  me  commit  a 
robbery,  on  the  high  seas,  would  ye  ?" 

"  What  robbery  would  it  be  to  order  the  gun-room  to  sell 
us  some  poultry.  Lord  !  Sir  Jarvy,  I'm  as  far  from  wish 
ing  to  take  a  thing  without  an  order,  as  the  gunner's  yeo 
man  ;  but,  let  Mr.  Atwood  put  it  in  black  and  white." 

"  Tush  !"  interrupted  the  master.  "  How  did  the  French 
bear  from  us,  when  you  were  last  on  deck  ?" 

"  Why,  there  they  is,  Sir  Jarvy,"  answered  Galleygo, 
drawing  the  curtain  from  before  the  state-room  window,  and 
allowing  the  vice-admiral  to  see  the  rear  of  the  French  line 
for  himself,  by  turning  half  round ;  "  and  just  where  we 
wants  'em.  Their  leading  ship  a  little  abaft  our  lee-beam, 
distant  one  league.  That 's  what  I  calls  satisfactory,  now." 

"  Ay,  that  is  a  good  position,  Master  Galleygo.  Was  the 
prize  in  sight,  or  were  you  too  chicken-headed  to  look." 

"  I  chicken-headed  !  Well,  Sir  Jarvy,  of  all  characters 
and  descriptions  of  me,  that  your  honour  has  seen  fit  to  put 
abroad,  this  is  the  most  unjustest;  chickens  being  a  food  I 
never  thinks  on,  off  soundings.  Pig-headed  you  might  in 


400  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

reason  call  me,  Sir  Jarvy ;  for  I  do  looks  arter  the  pigs, 
which  is  the  only  real  stand-by  in  a  ship ;  but  I  never 
dreams  of  a  chicken,  except  for  your  happetite.  When  they 
was  eight  on  'em " 

"  Was  the  prize  in  sight  ?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  a  lit- 
tie  sharply. 

"  No,  Sir  Jarvy ;  she  had  disappeared,  and  the  Druid 
with  her.  But  this  isn't  all,  sir  ;  for  they  does  say,  some'at 
has  befallen  the  Carnatic,  she  having  gone  out  of  our  line, 
like  a  binnacle-lamp  at  eight  bells." 

"  Ay,  she  is  not  visible,  either." 

"  Not  so  much  as  a  hen-coop,  Sir  Jarvy  !  We  all  won 
ders  what  has  become  of  Captain  Parker ;  no  sign  of  him 
or  of  his  ship  is  to  be  found  on  the  briny  ocean.  The 
young  gentlemen  of  the  watch  laugh,  and  say  she  must  have 
gone  up  in  a  water-spout,  but  they  laughs  so  much  at  mis- 
fortins,  generally,  that  1  never  minds  'em." 

"  Have  you  had  a  good  look-out  at  the  ocean,  this  morn 
ing,  Master  Galleygo,"  asked  Sir  Gervaise,  drawing  his 
head  out  of  a  basin  of  water,  for,  by  this  time,  he  was  half- 
dressed,  and  making  his  preparations  for  the  razor.  "  You 
used  to  have  an  eye  for  a  chase,  when  we  were  in  a  frigate, 
and  ought  to  be  able  to  tell  me  if  Bluewater  is  in  sight." 

"  Admiral  Blue  ! — Well,  Sir  Jarvy,  it  is  remarkable,  but 
I  had  just  rubbed  his  division  out  of  my  log,  and  forgotten 
all  about  it.  There  was  a  handful  of  craft,  or  so,  off  here 
to  the  nor  'ard,  at  daylight,  but  I  never  thought  it  was  Ad 
miral  Blue,  it  being  more  nat'ral  to  suppose  him  in  his  place, 
as  usual,  in  tne  rear  of  our  own  line.  Let  me  see,  Sir  Jarvy, 
how  many  ships  has  we  absent  under  Admiral  Blue?" 

"  Why,  the  five  two-deckers  of  his  own  division,  to  be 
sure,  besides  the  Ranger  and  the  Gnat.  Seven  sail  in  all." 

"  Yes,  that's  just  it !  Well,  your  honour,  there  was  five 
sail  to  be  seen,  out  here  to  the  nor'ard,  as  I  told  you,  and, 
sure  enough,  it  may  have  been  Admiral  Blue,  with  all  his 
craft." 

By  this  time,  Sir  Gervaise  had  his  face  covered  with 
lather,  but  he  forgot  the  circumstance  in  a  moment.  As 
the  wind  was  at  the  north-west,  and  the  Plantagenet  was  on 
the  larboard  tack,  looking  in  the  direction  of  the  Bill  of 
Portland,  f.ho'igh  much  too  far  to  the  southward  to  allow  the 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  401 

land  to  be  seen,  his  own  larboard  quarter-gallery  window 
commanded  a  good  view  of  the  whole  horizon  to  windward. 
Crossing  over  from  the  starboard  state-room,  which  he  oc 
cupied  ex-officio,  he  opened  the  window  in  question,  and 
took  a  look  lor  himself.  There,  sure  enough,  was  visible  a 
squadron  of  five  ships,  in  close  order,  edging  leisurely  down 
on  the  two  lines,  under  their  top-sails,  and  just  near  enough 
to  allow  it  to  be  ascertained  that  their  courses  were  not  set. 
This  sight  produced  a  sudden  change  in  all  the  vice-admi- 
ral's  movements.  The  business  of  the  toilet  was  resumed 
in  haste,  and  the  beard  was  mowed  with  a  slashing  hand, 
that  might  have  been  hazardous  in  the  motion  of  a  ship,  but 
for  the  long  experience  of  a  sailor.  This  important  part  of 
the  operation  was  scarcely  through,  when  Locker  announced 
the  presence  of  Captain  Greenly  in  the  main  cabin. 

"  What  now,  Greenly  ?  —  What  now  ?"  called  out  the 
vice-admiral,  puffing  as  he  withdrew  his  head,  again,  from 
the  basin — "  What  now,  Greenly  ?  Any  news  from  Blue- 
water?" 

"  I  am  happy  to  tell  you,  Sir  Gervaise,  he  has  been  in  sight 
more  than  an  hour,  and  is  closing  with  us,  though  shyly 
and  slowly.  I  would  not  let  you  be  called,  as  all  was  right, 
and  I  knew  sleep  was  necessary  to  a  clear  head." 

"  You  have  done  quite  right,  Greenly  ;  God  willing,  I  in 
tend  this  to  be  a  busy  day !  The  French  must  see  our  rear 
division  ?" 

"  Beyond  a  doubt,  sir,  but  they  show  no  signs  of  making 
off.  M.  de  Vervillin  will  fight,  I  feel  certain ;  though  the 
experience  of  yesterday  may  render  him  a  little  shy  as  to 
the  mode." 

"  And  his  crippled  ship  ? — Old  Parker's  friend — I  take  it 
she  is  not  visible." 

"  You  were  quite  right  in  your  conjecture,  Sir  Gervaise ; 
the  crippled  ship  is  off,  as  is  one  of  the  frigates,  no  doubt  to 
see  her  in.  Blevvet,  too,  has  gone  well  to  windward  of  the 
French,  though  he  can  fetch  into  no  anchorage  short  of 
Portsmouth,  if  this  breeze  stand." 

"  Any  haven  will  do.     Our  little  success  will  animate  the 
king's  party,  and  give  it  more  eclat,  perhaps,  than  it  really 
merits.    Let  there  be  no  delay  with  the  breakfast  this  morn 
ing,  G-eenly  ;  it  will  be  a  busy  day." 
34* 


402  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"  Ay — ay — sir — "  answered  the  captain  in  the  sailor's 
usual  mariner ;  "  that  has  been  seen  to  already,  as  I  have 
expected  as  much.  Admiral  Bluewater  keeps  his  ships  in 
most  beautiful  order,  sir  !  I  do  not  think  the  Caesar,  which 
leads,  is  two  cable's-length  from  the  Dublin,  the  stern  most 
vessel.  He  is  driving  four-in-hand,  with  a  tight  rein,  too, 
depend  on  it,  sir." 

At  this  instant,  Sir  Gervaise  came  out  of  his  state-room, 
his  coat  in  his  hand,  and  with  a  countenance  that  was 
thoughtful.  He  finished  dressing  with  an  abstracted  air, 
and  would  not  have  known  the  last  garment  was  on,  had 
not  Galleygo  given  a  violent  pull  on  its  skirts,  in  order  to 
smooth  the  cloth  about  the  shoulders. 

"  It  is  odd,  that  Bluewater  should  come  down  nearly  be 
fore  the  wind,  in  a  line  ahead,  and  not  in  a  line  abreast!" 
Sir  Gervaise  rejoined,  as  his  steward  did  this  office  for  him. 

"  Let  Admiral  Blue  alone,  for  doing  what 's  right,"  put  in 
Galleygo,  in  his  usual  confident  and  self-possessed  manner. 
"  By  keeping  his  ships  astern  of  hisself,  he  can  tell  where 
to  find  'em,  and  we  understands  from  experience,  if  Admi 
ral  Blue  knows  where  to  find  a  ship,  he  knows  how  to  use 
her." 

Instead  of  rebuking  this  interference,  which  went  a  little 
further  than  common,  Greenly  was  surprised  to  see  the  vice- 
admiral  look  his  steward  intently  in  the  face,  as  if  the  man 
had  expressed  some  shrewd  and  comprehensive  truth.  Then 
turning  to  his  captain,  Sir  Gervaise  intimated  an  intention 
of  going  on  deck  to  survey  the  state  of  things  with  his  owp 
eyes. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  403 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

"  Thou  shouldst  have  died,  O  high-soul'd  chief! 
In  those  bright  days  of  glory  fled, 
When  triumph  so  prevailed  o'er  grief, 
We  scarce  would  mourn  the  dead." 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

THE  eventful  day  opened  with  most  of  the  glories  of  a 
summer's  morning.  The  wind  alone  prevented  it  from  being 
one  of  the  finest  sun-risings  of  July.  That  continued  fresh, 
at  north-west,  and,  consequently,  cool  for  the  season.  The 
seas  of  the  south-west  gale  had  entirely  subsided,  and  were 
already  succeeded  by  the  regular  but  comparatively  trifling 
swell  of  the  new  breeze.  For  large  ships,  it  might  be  called 
smooth  water;  though  the  Driver  and  Active  showed  by 
their  pitching  and  unsteadiness,  and  even  the  two-deckers, 
by  their  waving  masts,  that  the  unquiet  ocean  was  yet  in 
motion.  The  wind  seemed  likely  to  -stand,  and  was  what 
seamen  would  be  apt  to  call  a  good  six-knot  breeze. 

To  leeward,  still  distant  about  a  league,  lay  the  French 
vessels,  drawn  up  in  beautiful  array,  and  in  an  order  so 
close  and  a  line  so  regular,  as  to  induce  the  belief  that  M. 
de  Vervillin  had  made  his  dispositions  to  receive  the  expected 
attack,  in  his  present  position.  All  his  main-top-sails  lay 
flat  aback ;  the  top-gallant-sails  were  flying  loose,  but  with 
buntlings  and  clew-lines  hauled  up  ;  the  jibs  were  fluttering 
to  leeward  of  their  booms,  and  the  courses  were  hanging  in 
festoons  beneath  their  yards.  This  was  gallant  fighting- 
canvass,  and  it  excited  the  admiration  of  even  his  enemies. 
To  increase  this  feeling",  just  as  Sir  Gervaise's  foot  reached 
the  poop,  the  whole  French  line  displayed  their  ensigns,  and 
le  Foudroyant  fired  a  gun  to  windward. 

"  Hey  !  Greenly  ?"  exclaimed  the  English  commander-in- 
chief;  "  this  is  a  manly  defiance,  and  coming  from  M.  de 
Vervillin,  it  means  something  !  He  wishes  to  take  the  day 
for  it ;  though,  as  I  think  half  that  time  will  answer,  we  will 
wash  up  the  cups  before  we  go  at  it.  Make  the  signals, 
Bunting,  for  the  ships  to  heave-to,  and  then  to  get  their 


404  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

breakfasts,  as  fast  as  possible.  Steady  breeze  —  steady 
breeze,  Greenly,  and  all  we  want !" 

Five  minutes  later,  while  Sir  Gervaise  was  running  his 
eye  over  the  signal-book,  the  Plantagenet's  calls  were  piping 
the  people  to  their  morning  meal,  at  least  an  hour  earlier 
than  common ;  the  people  repaired  to  their  messes,  with  a 
sort  of  stern  joy  ;  every  man  in  the  ship  understanding  tho 
reason  of  a  summons  so  unusual.  The  calls  of  the  vessels 
astern  were  heard  soon  after,  and  one  of  the  officers  who 
was  watching  the  enemy  with  a  glass,  reported  that  he 
thought  the  French  were  breakfasting,  also.  Orders  being 
given  to  the  officers  to  employ  the  next  half  hour  in  the 
same  manner,  nearly  everybody  was  soon  engaged  in  eating; 
few  thinking  that  the  meal  might  probably  be  their  last.  Sir 
Gervaise  felt  a  concern,  whieh  he  succeeded  in  concealing, 
however,  at  the  circumstance  that  the  ships  to  windward 
made  no  more  sail ;  though  he  refrained  from  signalling  the 
rear-admiral  to  that  effect,  from  tenderness  to  his  friend,  and 
a  vague  apprehension  of  what  might  be  the  consequences. 
While  the  crews  were  eating,  he  stood  gazing,  thoughtfully, 
at  the  noble  spectacle,  the  enemy  offered,  to  leeward,  occa 
sionally  turning  wistful  glances  at  the  division  that  was  con 
stantly  drawing  nearer  to  windward.  At  length  Greenly, 
himself,  reported  that  the  Plantagenet  had  "  turned  the 
hands-to,"  again.  At  this  intelligence,  Sir  Gervaise  started, 
as  from  a  reverie,  smiled,  and  spoke.  We  will  here  remark, 
that  now,  as  on  the  previous  day,  all  the  natural  excitability 
of  manner  had  disappeared  from  the  commander-in-chief, 
and  he  was  quiet,  and  exceedingly  gentle  in  his  deportment. 
This,  all  who  knew  him,  understood  to  denote  a  serious  de> 
termination  to  engage. 

"  I  have  desired  Galleygo  to  set  my  little  table,  half  an 
hour  hence,  in  the  after-cabin,  Greenly,  and  you  will  share 
the  meal  with  me.  Sir  Wycherly  will  be  of  our  party,  and 
I  hope  it  will  not  be  the  last  time  we  may  meet  at  the  same 
board.  It  is  necessary  everything  should  be  in  fighting-order 
to-day  !" 

"  So  I  understand  it,  Sir  Gervaise.  We  are  ready  to 
begin,  as  soon  as  the  order  shall  be  received." 

"  Wait  one  moment  until  Bunting  comes  up  from  his 
breakfast.  Ah !  here  he  is,  and  we  are  quite  ready  for  him, 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  405 

having  bent-on  the  signal  m  his  absence.  Show  the  order, 
Bunting ;  for  the  day  advances." 

The  little  flags  were  fluttering  at  the  main-top-gallant- 
mast-head  of  the  Plantagenet  in  less  than  one  minute,  and  in 
another  it  was  repeated  by  the  Chloe,  Driver,  and  Active, 
all  of  which  were  lying-to,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  windward, 
charged  in  particular  with  this,  among  other  duties.  So 
well  was  this  signal  known,  that  not  a  book  in  the  fleet  was 
consulted,  but  all  the  ships  answered,  the  instant  the  flags 
could  be  seen  and  understood.  Then  the  shrill  whistles 
were  heard  along  the  line,  calling  "All  hands"  to  "  clear 
ship  for  action,  ahoy  !" 

No  sooner  was  this  order  given  in  the  Plantagenet,  than 
the  ship  became  a  scene  of  active  but  orderly  exertion.  The 
top-men  were  on  the  yards,  stoppering,  swinging  the  yards 
in  chains,  and  lashing,  in  order  to  prevent  shot  from  doing 
more  injury  than  was  unavoidable ;  bulwarks  were  knocked 
down ;  mess-chests,  bags,  and  all  other  domestic  appliances, 
disappeared  below,*  and  the  decks  were  cleared  of  every 
thing  which  could  be  removed,  and  which  would  not  be  ne 
cessary  in  an  engagement.  Fully  a  quarter  of  an  hour  was 
thus  occupied,  for  there  was  no  haste,  and  as  it  was  no  mo 
ment  of  mere  parade,  it  was  necessary  that  the  work  should 
be  effectually  done.  The  officers  forbade  haste,  and  nothing 
important  was  reported  as  effected,  that  some  one  in  autho 
rity  did  not  examine  with  his  own  eyes,  to  see  that  no  pro 
per  care  had  been  neglected.  Then  Mr.  Bury,  the  first  lieu 
tenant,  went  on  the  main-yard,  in  person,  to  look  at  the 
manner  in  which  it  had  been  slung,  while  he  sent  the  boat 
swain  up  forward,  on  the  same  errand.  These  were  unu 
sual  precautions,  but  the  word  had  passed  through  the  ship 
"  that  Sir  Jarvy  was  in  earnest ;"  and  whenever  it  was 
known  that  "  Sir  Jarvy"  was  in  such  a  humour,  every  one 
understood  that  the  day's  work  was  to  be  hard,  if  not  long. 

"  Our  breakfast  is  ready,  Sir  Jarvy,"  reported  Galleygo, 
u  and  as  the  decks  is  all  clear,  the  b'ys  can  make  a  clean 

*  In  the  action  of  the  Nile,  many  of  the  French  ships,  under  the  im 
pression  that  the  enemy  must  engage  on  the  outside,  put  their  lumber, 
bags,  &c.,  into  the  ports,  and  between  the  guns,  in  the  larboard  or  in 
shore  batteries ;  and  when  the  British  anchored  inshore  of  them,  these 
batteries  could  not  be  used  ! 


406  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

run  of  it  from  the  coppers.  I  only  wants  to  know  when  to 
serve  it,  your  honour." 

"  Serve  it  now,  my  good  fellow.  Tell  the  Bowlderos  to 
be  nimble,  and  expect  us  below.  Come,  Greenly — come, 
Wychecombe — we  are  the  last  to  eat — let  us  not  be  the  lost 
tt  our  stations." 

"Ship's  clear,  sir,"  reported  Bury  to  his  captain,  as  the 
hree  reached  the  quarter-deck,  on  their  way  to  the  cabin. 

"  Very  well,  Bury ;  when  the  fleet  is  signalled  to  go  to 
juarters,  we  will  obey  with  the  rest." 

As  this  was  said,  Greenly  looked  at  the  vice-admiral  to 
satch  his  wishes.  But  Sir  Gervaise  had  no  intention  of 
fatiguing  his  people  unnecessarily.  He  had  left  his  private 
orders  with  Bunting,  and  he  passed  down  without  an  answer 
or  a  glance.  The  arrangements  in  the  after-cabin  were  as 
snug  and  as  comfortable  as  if  the  breakfast-table  had  been 
set  in  a  private  house,  and  the  trio  took  their  seats  and  com 
menced  operations  with  hearty  good  will.  The  vice-admiral 
ordered  the  doors  thrown  open,  and  as  the  port-lids  were  up, 
from  the  place  where  he  sat  he  could  command  glimpses, 
both  to  leeward  and  to  windward,  that  included  a  view  of 
the  enemy,  as  well  as  one  of  his  own  expected  reinforce 
ments.  The  Bowlderos  were  in  full  livery,  and  more  active 
and  attentive  than  usual  even.  Their  station  in  battle — for 
no  man  on  board  a  vessel  of  war  is  an  "  idler"  in  a  combat 
— was  on  the  poop,  as  musketeers,  near  the  person  of  their 
master,  whose  colours  they  wore,  under  the  ensign  of  their 
prince,  like  vassals  of  an  ancient  baron.  Notwithstanding 
the  crisis  of  the  morning,  however,  these  men  performed 
their  customary  functions  with  the  precision  and  method  of 
English  menials,  omitting  no  luxury  or  usage  of  the  table. 
On  a  sofa  behind  the  table,  was  spread  the  full  dress-coat 
of  a  vice-admiral,  then  a  neat  but  plain  uniform,  without 
either  lace  or  epaulettes,  but  decorated  with  a  rich  star  in 
brilliants,  the  emblem  of  the  order  of  the  Bath.  This  coat 
Sir  Gervaise  always  wore  in  battle,  unless  the  weather  ren 
dered  a  "  storm-uniform,"  as  he  used  to  term  a  plainer 
attire,  necessary. 

The  breakfast  passed  off  pleasantly,  the  gentlemen  eating 
as  if  no  momentous  events  were  near.  Just  at  its  close, 
however,  Sir  Gervaise  leaned  forward,  and  looking  through 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  407 

one  of  the  weather-ports  of  the  main  cabin,  an  expression 
of  pleasure  illuminated  his  countenance,  as  he  said  — 

"  Ah  !  there  go  Bluewater's  signals,  at  last !  —  a  certain 
proof  that  he  is  about  to  put  himself  in  communication  with 
us.' 

"  I  have  been  a  good  deal  surprised,  sir,"  observed  Green 
ly,  a  little  drily,  though  with  great  respect  of  manner,  "  that 
you  have  not  ordered  the  rear-admiral  to  make  more  sail. 
He  is  jogging  along  like  a  heavy  wagon,  and  yet  I  hardly 
think  he  can  mistake  these  five  ships  for  Frenchmen  !" 

"  He  is  never  in  a  hurry,  and  no  doubt  wishes  to  let  his 
crews  breakfast,  before  he  closes.  I  '11  warrant  ye,  now, 
gentlemen,  that  his  ships  are  at  this  moment  all  as  clear  as 
a  church  five  minutes  after  the  blessing  has  been  pro 
nounced." 

"  It  will  not  be  one  of  our  Virginian  churches,  then,  Sir 
Gervaise,"  observed  Wycherly,  smiling  ;  "  they  serve  for  an 
exchange,  to  give  and  receive  news  in,  after  the  service  is 
over." 

"Ay,  that's  the  old  rule  —  first  pray,  and  then  gossip. 
Well,  Bunting,  what  does  the  rear-admiral  say  ?" 

"  Upon  my  word,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  can  make  nothing  of 
the  signal,  though  it  is  easy  enough  to  make  out  the  flags," 
answered  the  puzzled  signal-officer.  "  Will  you  have  the 
goodness  to  look  at  the  book  yourself,  sir.  The  number  is 
one  hundred  and  forty." 

"  One  hundred  and  forty  !  Why,  that  must  have  some 
thing  to  do  with  anchoring  !  —  ay,  here  it  is.  '  Anchor,  1 
cannot,  having  lost  my  cables.'  Who  the  devil  asked  him 
to  anchor?" 

"  That 's  just  it,  sir.  The  signal-officer  on  board  the 
Caesar  must  have  made  some  mistake  in  his  flags ;  for, 
though  the  distance  is  considerable,  our  glasses  are  good 
enough  to  read  them." 

"  Perhaps  Admiral  Blue  water  has  set  the  private,  per 
sonal,  telegraph  at  work,  sir,"  quietly  observed  Greenly. 

The  commander-in-chief  actually  changed  colour  at  this 
suggestion.  His  face,  at  first,  flushed  to  crimson  ;  then  it 
became  pale,  like  the  countenance  of  one  who  suffered  under 
acute  bodily  pain.  Wycherly  observed  this,  and  respectfully 
inquired  if  Sir  Gervaise  were  ill. 


408  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

"I  thank  you,  young  sir,"  answered  the  vice-admiral, 
smiling  painfully ;  "  it  is  over.  I  believe  I  shall  have  to  go 
into  dock,  and  let  Magrath  look  at  some  of  my  old  hurts, 
which  are  sometimes  troublesome.  Mr.  Bunting,  do  me  the 
favour  to  go  on  deck,  and  ascertain,  by  a  careful  examina 
tion,  if  a  short  red  pennant  be  not  set  some  ten  or  twelve 
feet  above  the  uppermost  flag.  Now,  Greenly,  we  will  take 
the  other  cup  of  tea,  for  there  is  plenty  of  leisure." 

Two  or  three  brooding  minutes  followed.  Then  Bunting 
returned  to  say  the  pennant  was  there,  a  fact  he  had  quite 
overlooked  in  his  former  observations,  confounding  the  nar 
row  flag  in  question  with  the  regular  pennant  of  the  king. 
This  short  red  pennant  denoted  that  the  communication  was 
verbal,  according  to  a  method  invented  by  Bluewater  him 
self,  and  by  means  of  which,  using  the  ordinary  numbers, 
he  was  enabled  to  communicate  with  his  friend,  without  any 
of  the  captains,  or,  indeed,  without  Sir  Gervaise's  own  sig 
nal-officer's  knowing  what  was  said.  In  a  word,  without 
having  recourse  to  any  new  flags,  but,  by  simply  giving 
new  numbers  to  the  old  ones,  and  referring  to  a  prepared 
dictionary,  it  was  possible  to  hold  a  conversation  in  sen 
tences,  that  should  be  a  secret  to  all  but  themselves.  Sir 
Gervaise  took  down  the  number  of  the  signal  that  was  fly 
ing,  and  then  he  directed  Bunting  to  show  the  answering 
flag,  with  a  similar  pennant  over  it,  and  to  continue  this 
operation  so  long  as  the  rear-admiral  might  make  his  sig 
nals.  The  numbers  were  to  be  sent  below  as  fast  as  re 
ceived.  As  soon  as  Bunting  disappeared,  the  vice-admiral 
unlocked  a  secretary,  the  key  of  which  was  never  out  of  his 
own  possession,  took  from  it  a  small  dictionary,  and  laid  it  by 
his  plate.  All  this  time  the  breakfast  proceeded,  signals  of 
this  nature  frequently  occurring  between  the  two  admirals. 
In  the  course  of  the  next  ten  minutes,  a  quarter-master 
brought  below  a  succession  of  numbers  written  on  small 
pieces  of  paper ;  after  which  Bunting  appeared  himself  to 
say  that  the  Caesar  had  stopped  signalling. 

Sir  Gervaise  now  looked  out  each  word  by  its  proper 
number,  and  wrote  it  down  with  his  pencil  as  he  proceeded, 
until  the  whole  read — "  God  sake — make  no  signal.  En 
gage  not."  No  sooner  was  the  communication  understood 
than  the  paper  was  torn  into  minute  fragments,  the  book 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  409 

replaced,  and  the  vice-admiral,  turning  with  a  calm  deter 
mined  countenance  to  Greenly,  ordered  him  to  beat  to  quar 
ters  as  soon  as  Bunting  could  show  a  signal  to  the  fleet  to 
the  same  effect.  On  this  hint,  all  but  the  vice-admiral  went 
on  deck,  and  the  Bowlderos  instantly  set  about  removing  the 
table  arid  all  the  other  appliances.  Finding  himself  annoy 
ed  by  the  movements  of  the  servants,  Sir  Gervaise  walked 
out  into  the  great  cabin,  which,  regardless  of  its  present 
condition,  he  began  to  pace  as  was  his  wont  when  lost 
in  thought.  The  bulk-heads  being  down,  and  the  furniture 
removed,  this  was  in  truth  walking  in  sight  of  the  crew. 
All  who  happened  to  be  on  the  main-deck  could  see  what 
passed,  though  no  one  presumed  to  enter  a  spot  that  was 
tabooed  to  vulgar  feet,  even  when  thus  exposed.  The  as 
pect  and  manner  of  "  Sir  Jarvy,"  however,  were  not  over 
looked,  and  the  men  prognosticated  a  serious  time. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things,  when  the  drums  beat  to 
quarters,  throughout  the  whole  line.  At  the  first  tap,  the 
great  cabin  sunk  to  the  level  of  an  ordinary  battery  ;  the 
seamen  of  two  guns,  with  the  proper  officers,  entering  with 
in  the  sacred  limits,  and  coolly  setting  about  clearing  their 
pieces,  and  making  the  other  preparations  necessary  for  an 
action.  All  this  time  Sir  Gervaise  continued  pacing  what 
would  have  been  the  centre  of  his  own  cabin  had  the  bulk 
heads  stood,  the  grim-looking  sailors  avoiding  him  with 
great  dexterity,  and  invariably  touching  their  hats  as  they 
\rere  compelled  to  glide  near  his  person,  though  everything 
went  on  as  if  he  were  not  present.  Sir  Gervaise  might  have 
remained  lost  in  thought  much  longer  than  he  did,  had  not 
the  report  of  a  gun  recalled  him  to  a  consciousness  of  the 
scene  that  was  enacting  around  him. 

"  What 's  that  ?"  suddenly  demanded  the  vice-admiral — 
"  Is  Bluewater  signalling  again  ?" 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise,"  answered  the  fourth  lieutenant, 
looking  out  of  a  lee  port ;  "  it  is  the  French  admiral  giving 
us  another  weather-gun  ;  as  much  as  to  ask  why  we  don't 
go  down.  This  is  the  second  compliment  of  the  same  sort 
that  he  has  paid  us  already  to-day !" 

These  words  were  not  all  spoken  before  the  vice-admiral 
was  on  the  quarter-deck  ;  in  half  a  minute  more,  he  was  on 
the  poop.     Hero  he  found  Greenly,  Wychecombe  and  Bunt- 
35 


410         •  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

ing,  all  looking  with  interest  at  the  beautiful  line  of  the 
enemy. 

"  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  is  impatient  to  wipe  off  the  dis 
grace  of  yesterday,"  observed  the  first,  "  as  is  apparent  by 
the  invitations  he  gives  us  to  come  down.  I  presume  Ad 
miral  Bluewater  will  wake  up  at  this  last  hint." 

"  By  Heaven,  he  has  hauled  his  wind,  and  is  standing  to 
the  northward  and  eastward  !"  exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  sur 
prise  overcoming  all  his  discretion.  "  Although  an  extra 
ordinary  movement,  at  such  a  time,  it  is  wonderful  in  what 
beautiful  order  Bluewater  keeps  his  ships  !" 

All  that  was  said  was  true  enough.  The  rear-admiral's 
division  having  suddenly  hauled  up,  in  a  close  line  ahead, 
each  ship  followed  her  leader  as  mechanically  as  if  they 
moved  by  a  common  impulse.  As  no  one  in  the  least  doubt 
ed  the  rear-admiral's  loyalty,  and  his  courage  was  of  proof, 
it  was  the  general  opinion  that  this  unusual  manoeuvre  had 
some  connection  with  the  unintelligible  signals,  and  the 
young  officers  laughingly  inquired  among  themselves  what 
"  Sir  Jarvy  was  likely  to  do  next  ?" 

It  would  seem,  however,  that  Monsieur  de  Vervillin  sus 
pected  a  repetition  of  some  of  the  scenes  of  the  preceding 
day ;  for,  no  sooner  did  he  perceive  that  the  English  rear 
was  hugging  the  wind,  than  five  of  his  leading  ships  filled, 
and  drew  ahead,  as  if  to  meet  that  division,  manoeuvring  to 
double  on  the  head  of  his  line ;  while  the  remaining  five, 
with  the  Foudroyant,  still  lay  with  their  top-sails  to  the 
mast,  waiting  for  their  enemy  to  come  down.  Sir  Gervaise 
could  not  stand  this  long.  He  determined,  if  possible,  to 
bring  Bluewater  to  terms,  and  he  ordered  the  Plantagenet  to 
fill.  Followed  by  his  own  division,  he  wore  immediately, 
and  went  off  under  easy  sail,  quartering,  towards  Monsieur 
de  Vervillin's  rear,  to  avoid  being  raked. 

The  quarter  of  an  hour  that  succeeded  was  one  of  intense 
interest,  and  of  material  changes ;  though  not  a  shot  was 
fired.  As  soon  as  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  perceived  that 
the  English  were  disposed  to  come  nearer,  he  signalled  his 
own  division  to  bear  up,  and  to  run  off  dead  before  the  wind, 
under  their  top-sails,  commencing  astern ;  which  reversed 
his  order  of  sailing,  and  brought  le  Foudroyant  in  the  rear, 
or  nearest  to  the  enemy.  This  was  no  sooner  done,  than 


THE     TWOADMIRALS.  411 

he  settled  all  his  top-sails  on  the  caps.  There  could  be  no 
mistaking  this  manosuvre.  It  was  a  direct  invitation  to  Sir 
Gervaise  to  come  down,  fairly  alongside ;  the  bearing  up  at 
once  removing  all  risk  of  being  raked  in  so  doing.  The 
English  commander-in-chief  was  not  a  man  to  neglect  such 
a  palpable  challenge ;  but,  making  a  few  signals  to  direct 
the  mode  of  attack  he  contemplated,  he  set  foresail  and  main 
top-gallant  sail,  and  brought  the  wind  directly  over  his  own 
taffrail.  The  vessels  astern  followed  like  clock-work,  and 
then  no  one  doubted  that  the  mode  of  attack  was  settled  for 
that  day. 

As  the  French,  with  Monsieur  de  Vervillin,  were  still  half 
a  mile  to  the  southward  and  eastward  of  the  approaching 
division  of  their  enemy,  the  Comte  collected  all  his  frigates 
and  corvettes  on  his  starboard  hand,  leaving  a  clear  ap 
proach  to  Sir  Gervaise  on  his  larboard  beam.  This  hint 
was  understood,  too,  and  the  Plantagenet  steered  a  course 
that  would  bring  her  up  on  that  side  of  le  Foudroyant,  and 
at  the  distance  of  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  muz 
zles  of  her  guns.  This  threatened  to  be  close  work,  and 
unusual  work  in  fleets,  at  that  day ;  but  it  was  the  game  our 
commander-in-chief  was  fond  of  playing,  and  it  was  one, 
also,  that  promised  soonest  to  bring  matters  to  a  result. 

These  preliminaries  arranged,  there  was  yet  leisure  for 
the  respective  commanders  to  look  about  them.  The  French 
were  still  fully  a  mile  ahead  of  their  enemies,  and  as  both 
fleets  were  going  in  the  same  direction,  the  approach  of  the 
English  was  so  slow  as  to  leave  some  twenty  minutes  of 
that  solemn  breathing  time,  which  reigns  in  a  disciplined 
ship,  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  combat.  The 
feelings  of  the  two  commanders-in-chief,  at  this  pregnant  in 
stant,  were  singularly  in  contradiction  to  each  other.  The 
Comte  de  Vervillin  saw  that  the  rear  division  of  his  force, 
under  the  Centre- Ami ral  le  Vicomte  des  Prez,  was  in  the 
very  position  he  desired  it  to  be,  having  obtained  the  advan 
tage  of  the  wind  by  the  English  division's  coming  down, 
and  by  keeping  its  own  luff.  Between  the  two  French  offi 
cers  there  was  a  perfect  understanding  as  to  the  course  each 
was  to  take,  and  both  now  felt  sanguine  hopes  of  being 
able  to  obliterate  the  disgrace  of  the  previous  day,  and  that, 


412  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

too,  by  means  very  similar  to  those  by  which  it  had  been 
incurred.  On  the  other  hand,  Sir  Gervaise  was  beset  with 
doubts  as  to  the  course  Bluewater  might  pursue.  He  could 
not,  however,  come  to  the  conclusion  that  he  would  abandon 
him  to  the  joint  efforts  of  the  two  hostile  divisions  ;  and  so 
long  as  the  French  rear-admiral  was  occupied  by  the  Eng 
lish  force  to  windward,  it  left  to  himself  a  clear  field  and  no 
favour  in  the  action  with  Monsieur  de  Vervillin.  He  knew 
Bluewater's  generous  nature  too  well,  not  to  feel  certain  his 
own  compliance  with  the  request  not  to  signal  his  inferior 
would  touch  his  heart,  and  give  him  a  double  chance  with 
all  his  better  feelings.  Nevertheless,  Sir  Gervaise  Cakes  did 
not  lead  into  this  action  without  many  and  painful  misgiv 
ings.  He  had  lived  too  long  in  the  world  not  to  know  that 
political  prejudice  was  the  most  demoralizing  of  all  our 
weaknesses,  veiling  our  private  vices  under  the  plausible 
concealment  of  the  public  weal,  and  rendering  even  the  well- 
disposed  insensible  to  the  wrongs  they  commit  to  individuals, 
by  means  of  the  deceptive  flattery  of  serving  the  commu 
nity.  As  doubt  was  more  painful  than  the  certainty  of  his 
worst  forebodings,  however,  and  it  was  not  in  his  nature  to 
refuse  a  combat  so  fairly  offered,  he  was  resolved  to  close 
with  the  Comte  at  every  hazard,  trusting  the  issue  to  God, 
and  his  own  efforts. 

The  Plantagenet  presented  an  eloquent  picture  of  order 
and  preparation,  as  she  drew  near  the  French  line,  on  this 
memorable  occasion.  Her  people  were  all  at  quarters,  and, 
as  Greenly  walked  through  her  batteries,  he  found  every 
gun  on  the  starboard  side  loose,  levelled,  and  ready  to  be 
fired  ;  while  the  opposite  merely  required  a  turn  or  two  of 
the  tackles  to  be  cast  loose,  the  priming  to  be  applied,  and 
the  loggerhead  to  follow,  in  order  to  be  discharged,  also. 
A  death-like  stillness  reigned  from  the  poop  to  the  cockpit, 
the  older  seamen  occasionally  glancing  through  their  ports 
in  order  to  ascertain  the  relative  positions  of  the  two  fleets, 
that  they  might  be  ready  for  the  collision.  As  the  English 
got  within  musket-shot,  the  French  ran  their  topsails  to  the 
mast-heads,  and  their  ships  gathered  fresher  way  through 
the  water.  Still  the  former  moved  with  the  greatest  velocity, 
carrying  the  most  sail,  and  impelled  by  the  greater  mo- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  413 

mentum.     When  near  enough,  however,  Sir  Gervaise  gave 
the  order  to  reduce  the  canvass  of  his  own  ship. 

"That  will  do,  Greenly,"  he  said,  in  a  mild,  quiet  tone. 
"  Let  run  the  top-gallant-halyards,  and  haul  up  the  foresail. 
The  way  you  have,  will  bring  you  fairly  alongside." 

The  captain  gave  the  necessary  orders,  and  the  master 
shortened  sail  accordingly.  Still  the  Plantagenet  shot  ahead, 
and,  in  three  or  four  minutes  more,  her  bows  doubled  so 
far  on  le  Foudroyant's  quarter,  as  to  permit  a  gun  to  bear. 
This  was  the  signal  for  both  sides,  each  ship  opening  as  it 
might  be  in  the  same  breath.  The  flash,  the  roar,  and  the 
eddying  smoke  followed  in  quick  succession,  and  in  a  period 
of  time  that  seemed  nearly  instantaneous.  The  crash  of 
shot,  and  the  shrieks  of  wounded  mingled  with  the  infernal 
din,  for  nature  extorts  painful  concessions  of  human  weak 
nesses,  at  such  moments,  even  from  the  bravest  and  firmest. 
Bunting  was  in  the  act  of  reporting  to  Sir  Gervaise  that  no 
signal  could  yet  be  seen  from  the  Caesar,  in  the  midst  of  this 
uproar,  when  a  small  round-shot  discharged  from  the  French 
man's  poop,  passed  through  his  body,  literally  driving  the 
heart  before  it,  leaving  him  dead  at  his  commander's  feet. 

"  I  shall  depend  on  you,  Sir  Wycherly,  for  the  discharge 
of  poor  Bunting's  duty,  the  remainder  of  the  cruise,"  ob 
served  Sir  Gervaise,  with  a  smile  in  which  courtesy  and 
regret  struggled  singularly  for  the  mastery.  "  Quarter 
masters,  lay  Mr.  Bunting's  body  a  little  out  of  the  way,  and 
cover  it  with  those  signals.  They  are  a  suitable  pall  for  so 
brave  a  man !" 

Just  as  this  occurred,  the  Warspite  came  clear  of  the 
Plantagenet,  on  her  outside,  according  to  orders,  and  she 
opened  with  her  forward  guns,  taking  the  second  ship  in 
the  French  line  for  her  target.  In  two  minutes  more  these 
vessels  also  were  furiously  engaged  in  the  hot  strife.  In 
this  manner,  ship  after  ship  passed  on  the  outside  of  the 
Plantagenet,  and  sheered  into  her  berth  ahead  of  her  who 
had  just  been  her  own  leader,  until  the  Achilles,  Lord  Mor- 
ganic,  the  last  of  the  five,  lay  fairly  side  by  side  with  le 
Conquereur,  the  vessel  now  at  the  head  of  the  French  line. 
That  the  reader  may  understand  the  incidents  more  readily, 
we  will  give  the  opposing  lines  in  the  precise  form  in.  which 
they  lay,  viz. 

35  * 


414  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

Plantagenet le  Foudroyant 

Warspite le  Temeraire 

Blenheim le  Dugay  Trouin 

Thunderer 1'Ajax 

Achilles le  Conquereur. 

The  constantly  recurring  discharges  of  four  hundred 
pieces  of  heavy  ordnance,  within  a  space  so  small,  had  the 
effect  to  repel  the  regular  currents  of  air,  and,  almost  im 
mediately,  to  lessen  a  breeze  of  six  or  seven  knots,  to  one 
that  would  not  propel  a  ship  more  than  two  or  three.  This 
was  the  first  observable  phenomenon  connected  with  the  ac 
tion,  but,  as  it  had  been  expected,  Sir  Gervaise  had  used  the 
precaution  to  lay  his  ships  as  near  as  possible  in  the  posi 
tions  in  which  he  intended  them  to  fight  the  battle.  The 
next  great  physical  consequence,  one  equally  expected  and 
natural,  but  which  wrought  a  great  change  in  the  aspect  of 
the  battle,  was  the  cloud  of  smoke  in  which  the  ten  ships 
were  suddenly  enveloped.  At  the  first  broadsides  between 
the  two  admirals,  volumes  of  light,  fleecy  vapour  rolled 
over  the  sea,  meeting  midway,  and  rising  thence  in  curling 
wreaths,  left  nothing  but  the  masts  and  sails  of  the  ad 
versary  visible  in  the  hostile  ship.  This,  of  itself,  would 
have  soon  hidden  the  combatants  in  the  bosom  of  a  nearly 
impenetrable  cloud ;  but  as  the  vessels  drove  onward  they 
entered  deeper  beneath  the  sulphurous  canopy,  until  it 
spread  on  each  side  of  them,  shutting  out  the  view  of  ocean, 
skies,  and  horizon.  The  burning  of  the  priming  below  con 
tributed  to  increase  the  smoke,  until,  not  only  was  respira 
tion  often  difficult,  but  those  who  fought  only  a  few  yards 
apart  frequently  could  not  recognise  each  other's  faces. 
In  the  midst  of  this  scene  of  obscurity,  and  a  din  that  might 
well  have  alarmed  the  caverns  of  the  ocean,  the  earnest  and 
well-drilled  seamen  toiled  at  their  ponderous  guns,  and  reme 
died  with  ready  hands  the  injuries  received  in  the  rigging, 
each  man  as  intent  on  his  own  particular  duty  as  if  he 
wrought  in  the  occupations  of  an  ordinary  gale. 

"  Sir  Wycherly,"  observed  the  vice-admiral,  when  the 
cannonading  had  continued  some  twenty  minutes,  "  there  is 
little  for  a  flag-officer  to  do  in  such  a  cloud  of  smoke.  I 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  415 

would  give  much  to  know  the  exact  positions  of  the  divi 
sions  of  our  two  rear-admirals  ?" 

"  There  is  but  one  mode  of  ascertaining  that,  Sir  Ger- 
vaise — if  it  be  your  pleasure,  I  will  attempt  it.  By  going' 
on  the  main-top-gallant-yard,  one  might  get  a  clear  view, 
perhaps." 

Sir  Gervaise  smiled  his  approbation,  and  presently  he  saw 
the  young  man  ascending  the  main-rigging,  though  half 
concealed  in  smoke.  Just  at  this  instant,  Greenly  ascended 
to  the  poop,  from  making  a  tour  of  observation  below.  With 
out  waiting  for  a  question,  the  captain  made  his  report. 

"  We  are  doing  pretty  well,  now,  Sir  Gervaise,  though 
the  first  broadside  of  the  Comte  treated  us  roughly.  I  think 
his  fire  slackens,  and  Bury  says,  he  is  certain  that  his  fore- 
top-mast  is  already  gone.  At  all  events,  out  lads  are  in 
good  spirits,  and  as  yet  all  the  sticks  keep  their  places." 

"I'm  glad  of  this,  Greenly;  particularly  of  the  latter, 
just  at  this  moment.  I  see  you  are  looking  at  those  signals 
— they  cover  the  body  of  poor  Bunting." 

"  And  this  train  of  blood  to  the  ladder,  sir — I  hope  our 
young  baronet  is  not  hurt?" 

"  No,  it  is  one  of  the  Bowlderos,  who  has  lost  a  leg.  I 
shall  have  to  see  that  he  wants  for  nothing  hereafter." 

There  was  a  pause,  and  then  both  the  gentlemen  smiled, 
as  they  heard  the  crashing  work  made  by  a  shot  just  be 
neath  them,  which,  by  the  sounds  and  the  direction,  they 
knew  had  passed  through  Greenly's  crockery.  Still  neither 
spoke.  After  a  few  more  minutes  of  silent  observation,  Sir 
Gervaise  remarked  that  he  thought  the  flashes  of  the  French 
guns  more  distant  than  they  had  been  at  first,  though,  at 
that  instant,  not  a  trace  of  their  enemy  was  to  be  discovered, 
except  in  the  roar  of  the  guns,  and  in  these  very  flashes,  and 
their  effect  on  the  Plantagenet. 

"  If  so,  sir,  the  Comte  begins  to  find  his  berth  too  hot  for 
him  ;  here  is  the  wind  still  directly  over  our  taffrail,  such 
as  it,  is." 

"  No — no — we  steer  as  we  began — I  keep  my  eye  on  that 
compass  below,  and  am  certain  we  hold  a  straight  course. 
Go  forward,  Greenly,  and  see  that  a  sharp  look-out  is  kept 
ahead.  It  is  time  some  of  our  own  ships  should  be  crippled ; 


416 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS 


we  must  be  careful  not  to  run  into  them.  Should  such  a 
thing  happen,  sheer  hard  to  starboard,  and  pass  inside." 

"  Ay — ay — Sir  Gervaise  ;  your  wishes  shall  be  attended 
U" 

As  this  was  said,  Greenly  disappeared,  and,  at  the  next 
instant,  Wycherly  stood  in  his  place. 

"  Well,  sir — I  am  glad  to  see  you  back  safe.  If  Greenly 
were  here,  now,  he  would  inquire  about  his  masts,  but  /  wish 
to  know  the  position  of  the  ships" 

"  I  am  the  bearer  of  bad  news,  sir.  Nothing  at  all  could 
be  seen  from  the  top ;  but  in  the  cross-trees,  I  got  a  good 
look  through  the  smoke,  and  am  sorry  to  say  the  French 
rear-admiral  is  coming  down  fast  on  our  larboard-quarter, 
with  all  his  force.  We  shall  have  him  abeam  in  five 
minutes." 

"And  Bluewater?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  quick  as 
lightning. 

"  I  could  see  nothing  of  Admiral  Blue  water's  ships ;  but 
knowing  the  importance  of  this  intelligence,  I  came  down 
immediately,  and  by  the  back-stay." 

"  You  have  done  well,  sir.  Send  a  midshipman  forward 
for  Captain  Greenly  ;  then  pass  below  yourself,  and  let 
the  lieutenants  in  the  batteries  hear  the  news.  They  must 
divide  their  people,  and  by  all  means  give  a  prompt  and  well- 
directed  first  broadside." 

Wycherly  waited  for  no  more.  He  ran  below  with  the 
activity  of  his  years.  The  message  found  Greenly  between 
the  knight-heads,  but  he  hurried  aft  to  the  poop  to  ascertain 
its  object.  It  took  Sir  Gervaise  but  a  moment  to  explain  it 
all  to  the  captain. 

"  In  the  name  of  Heaven,  what  can  the  other  division  bo 
about,"  exclaimed  Greenly,  "  that  it  lets  the  French  rear- 
admiral  come  upon  us,  in  a  moment  like  this !" 

"  Of  that,  sir,  it  is  unnecessary  to  speak  now"  answered 
the  commander-in-chief,  solemnly.  "  Our  present  business 
is  to  get  ready  for  this  new  enemy.  Go  into  the  batteries 
again,  and,  as  you  prize  victory,  be  careful  not  to  throw 
away  the  first  discharge,  in  the  smoke." 

As  time  pressed,  Greenly  swallowed  his  discontent,  and 
departed.  The  five  minutes  that  succeeded  were  bitter 
minutes  to  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes.  Beside  himself  there  were 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  417 

but  hve  men  on  the  poop  ;  viz.,  the  quarter-master  who 
tended  the  signals,  and  three  of  the  Bowlderos.  All  of  these 
were  using  muskets  as  usual,  though  the  vice-admiral  never 
permitted  marines  to  be  stationed  at  a  point  which  he  wished 
to  be  as  clear  of  smoke,  and  as  much  removed  from  bustle 
as  possible.  He  began  to  pace  this  comparatively  vacant 
little  deck  with  a  quick  step,  casting  wistful  glances  towards 
the  larboard-quarter  ;  but  though  the  smoke  occasionally 
cleared  a  little  in  that  direction,  the  firing  having  much  slack 
ened  from  exhaustion  in  the  men,  as  well  as  from  injuries 
given  and  received,  he  was  unable  to  detect  any  signs  of  a 
ship.  Such  was  the  state  of  things  when  Wycherly  returned 
and  reported  that  his  orders  were  delivered,  and  part  of  the 
people  were  already  in  the  larboard-batteries. 


CHAPTEK  XXYIIT. 

And  oh,  the  little  warlike  world  within  ! 
The  well-reeved  guns,  the  netted  canopy, 
The  hoarse  command,  the  busy  humming1  din, 
When  at  a  word,  the  tops  are  manned  on  high  : 
Hark  to  the  boatswain's  call,  the  cheering  cry  ! 
While  through  the  seaman's  hand  the  tackle  glides, 
Or  school-boy  midshipman,  that,  standing  by, 
Strains  his  shrill  pipe,  as  good  or  ill  betides, 
And  well  the  docile  crew  that  skilful  urchin  guides." 

BYRON. 

"  ARE  you  quite  sure,  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  that 
there  is  not  some  mistake  about  the  approach  of  the  rear  di 
vision  of  the  French  ?"  inquired  the  vice-admiral,  endeavour 
ing  to  catch  some  glimpse  of  the  water,  through  the  smoke 
on  the  larboard  hand.  "  May  not  some  crippled  ship  of  our 
own  have  sheered  from  the  line,  and  been  left  by  us,  un 
knowingly,  on  that  side?" 

"  No,  Sir  Gervaise,  there  is  no  mistake ;  there  can  be 
none,  unless  I  may  have  been  deceived  a  little  in  the  dis- 


418  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

tance.  I  saw  nothing  but  the  sails  and  spars,  not  of  a  sin 
gle  vessel,  but  of  three  ships  ;  and  one  of  them  wore  the 
Hag  of  a  French  rear-admiral  at  the  mizzen.  As  a  proof 
that  I  was  not  mistaken,  sir,  there  it  is  this  minute  !" 

The  smoke  on  the  off  side  of  the  Plantagenet.  as  a  matter 
of  course,  was  much  less  dense  than  that  on  the  side  engaged, 
and  the  wind  beginning  to  blow  in  eddies,  as  ever  happens 
in  a  heavy  cannonade,  there  were  moments  in  which  it  cast 
aside  the  "  shroud  of  battle."  At  that  instant  an  opening 
occurred  through  which  a  single  mast,  and  a  single  sail 
were  visible,  in  the  precise  spot  where  Wycherly  had  stated 
the  enemy  might  be  looked  for.  It  was  a  mizzen-top-sail, 
beyond  a  question,  and  above  it  was  fluttering  the  little 
square  flag  of  the  rear-admiral.  Sir  Gervaise  decided  on 
the  character  of  the  vessel,  and  on  his  own  course,  in  an 
instant.  Stepping  to  the  edge  of  the  poop,  with  his  natural 
voice,  without  the  aid  of  a  trumpet  of  any  sort,  he  called  out 
in  tones  that  rose  above  the  roar  of  the  contest,  the  ominous 
but  familiar  nautical  words  of  "  stand  by  !"  Perhaps  a  call 
from  powerful  lungs  (and  the  vice-admiral's  voice,  when  he 
chose  to  use  it,  was  like  the  blast  of  a  clarion)  is  clearer  and 
more  impressive,  when  unaided  by  instruments,  than  when 
it  comes  disguised  and  unnatural  through  a  tube.  At  any 
rate,  these  words  were  heard  even  on  the  lower  deck,  by 
those  who  stood  near  the  hatches.  Taking  them  up,  they 
were  repeated  by  a  dozen  voices,  with  such  expressions  as 
"  Look  out,  lads  ;  Sir  Jarvy's  awake  !"  "  Sight  your  guns  !"" 
"  Wait  till  she 's  square !"  and  other  similar  admonitions 
that  it  is  usual  for  the  sea-officer  to  give,  as  he  is  about  to 
commence  the  strife.  At  this  critical  moment,  Sir  Gervaise 
again  looked  up,  and  caught  another  glimpse  of  the  little  flag, 
as  it  passed  into  a  vast  wreath  of  smoke  ;  he  saw  that  the 
ship  was  fairly  abeam,  and,  as  if  doubling  all  his  powers, 
he  shouted  the  word  "  fire  !"  Greenly  was  standing  cai  the 
lower-deck  ladder,  with  his  head  just  even  with  the  coam 
ings  of  the  hatch,  as  this  order  reached  him,  and  he  re 
peated  it  in  u  voice  scarcely  less  startling.  The  cloud  on 
the  larboard  side  was  driven  in  all  directions,  like  dust  scat 
tered  by  wind.  The  ship  seemed  on  fire,  and  the  missiles 
of  forty-one  guns  flew  on  their  deadly  errand,  as  it  might  bo 
at  a  single  flash.  The  old  Plantagenet  trembled  to  her  keel 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  419 

and  even  bowed  a  little  at  the  recoils,  but,  like  one  suddenly 
relieved  from  a  burthen,  righted  and  went  on  her  way  none 
the  less  active.  That  timely  broadside  saved  the  English 
commander-in-chief's  ship  from  an  early  defeat.  It  took  the 
crew  of  le  Pluton,  her  new  adversary,  by  surprise  ;  for  they 
had  not  been  able  to  distinguish  the  precise  position  of  their 
enemy  ;  and,  besides  doing  vast  injury  to  both  hull  and  peo 
ple,  drew  her  fire  at  an  unpropitious  moment.  So  uncer 
tain  and  hasty,  indeed,  was  the  discharge  the  French  ship 
gave  in  return,  that  no  small  portion  of  the  contents  of  her 
guns  passed  ahead  of  the  Plantagene  ,  and  went  into  the  lar 
board  quarter  of  le  Temeraire,  the  French  admiral's  se 
cond  ahead. 

"  That  was  a  timely  salute,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  smiling 
as  soon  as  the  fire  of  his  new  enemy  had  been  received  with 
out  material  injury.  "  The  first  blow  is  always  half  the 
battle.  We  may  now  work  on  with  some  hopes  of  success. 
Ah !  here  comes  Greenly  again,  God  be  praised  !  unhurt." 

The  meeting  of  these  two  experienced  seamen  was  cor 
dial,  but  not  without  great  seriousness.  Both  felt  that  the 
situation  of  not  only  the  ship,  but  of  the  whole  fleet,  was 
extremely  critical,  the  odds  being  much  too  great,  and  the 
position  of  the  enemy  too  favourable,  not  to  render  the  re 
sult,  to  say  the  very  least,  exceedingly  doubtful.  Some 
advantage  had  certainly  been  obtained,  thus  far;  but  there 
was  little  hope  of  preserving  it  long.  The  circumstances 
called  for  very  decided  and  particularly  bold  measures. 

"  My  mind  is  made  up,  Greenly,"  observed  the  vice-ad 
miral.  "  We  must  go  aboard  of  one  of  these  ships,  and 
make  it  a  hand-to-hand  affair.  We  will  take  the  French 
commander-in-chief ;  he  is  evidently  a  good  deal  cut  up  by 
the  manner  in  which  his  fire  slackens,  and  if  we  can  carry 
him,  or  even  force  him  out  of  the  line,  it  will  give  us  a  bet 
ter  chance  with  the  rest.  As  for  Bluewater,  God  only 
knows  what  has  become  of  him !  He  is  not  here,  at  any 
rate,  and  we  must  help  ourselves." 

"  Yon  have  only  to  order,  Sir  Gervaise,  to  be  obeyed.  I 
\viil  lead  the  boarders,  myself." 

"  It  must  be  a  general  thing,  Greenly ;  I  rather  think  we 
shall  all  of  us  have  to  go  aboard  of  le  Foudroyant.  Go, 
give  the  necessary  orders,  and  when  everything  is  ready, 


420  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

round  in  a  little  on  the  larboard  braces,  clap  your  helm 
a-port,  and  give  the  ship  a  rank  sheer  to  starboard.  This 
will  bring  matters  to  a  crisis  at  once.  By  letting  the  fore 
sail  fall,  and  setting  the  spanker,  you  might  shove  the  ship 
ahead  a  little  faster." 

Greenly  instantly  left  the  poop  on  this  new  and  important 
duty.  He  sent  his  orders  into  the  batteries,  bidding  the 
people  remain  at  their  guns,  however,  to  the  last  moment  ; 
and  particularly  instructing  the  captain  of  marines,  as  to 
the  manner  in  which  he  was  to  cover,  and  then  follow  th« 
boarding-party.  This  done,  he  gave  orders  to  brace  for 
ward  the  yards,  as  directed  by  Sir  Gervaise. 

The  reader  will  not  overlook  the  material  circumstance 
that  all  we  have  related  occurred  amid  the  din  of  battle. 
Guns  were  exploding  at  each  instant,  the  cloud  of  smoke 
was  bcth  thickening  and  extending,  fire  was  flashing  in  the 
semi-obscurity  of  its  volumes,  shot  were  rending  the  wood 
and  cutting  the  rigging,  and  the  piercing  shrieks  of  agony, 
only  so  much  the  more  appalling  by  being  extorted  from 
the  stern  and  resolute,  blended  their  thrilling  accompani 
ments.  Men  seemed  to  be  converted  into  demons,  and  yet 
there  was  a  lofty  and  stubborn  resolution  to  conquer  min 
gled  with  all,  that  ennobled  the  strife  and  rendered  it  heroic. 
The  broadsides  that  were  delivered  in  succession  down  the 
line,  as  ship  after  ship  of  the  rear  division  reached  her  sta 
tion,  however,  proclaimed  that  Monsieur  des  Prez  had  imi 
tated  Sir  Gervaise's  mode  of  closing,  the  only  one  by  means 
of  which  the  leading  vessel  could  escape  destruction,  and 
that  the  English  were  completely  doubled  on.  At  this  mo 
ment,  the  sail-trimmers  of  the  Plantagenet  handled  their 
braces.  The  first  pull  was  the  last.  No  sooner  were  the 
ropes  started,  than  the  fore-top-rnast  went  over  the  bows, 
dragging  after  it  the  main  with  all  its  hamper,  the  mizzen 
snapping  like  a  pipe-stem,  at  the  cap.  By  this  cruel  acci 
dent,  the  result  of  many  injuries  to  shrouds,  back-stays  and 
spars,  the  situation  of  the  Plantagenet  became  worse  than 
ever;  for,  not  only  was  the  wreck  to  l>e  partially  cleared,  at 
least,  to  fight  many  of  the  larboard  guns,  but  the  command 
of  the  ship  was,  in  a  great  measure,  lost,  in  the  centre  of 
one  of  the  most  infernal  melees  that  ever  accompanied  a 
rx>mbat  at  sou. 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  421 

At  no  time  does  the  trained  seaman  ever  appear  so  great, 
as  when  he  meets  sudden  misfortunes  with  the  steadiness 
and  quiet  which  it  is  a  material  part  of  the  morale  of  disci 
pline  to  inculcate.  Greenly  was  full  of  ardour  for  the  as 
sault,  and  was  thinking  of  the  best  mode  of  running  foul 
of  his  adversary,  when  this  calamity  occurred ;  but  the  mast? 
were  hardly  down,  when  he  changed  all  his  thoughts  to  a 
new  current,  and  called  out  to  the  sail-trimmers  to  "  lay 
over,  and  clear  the  wreck." 

Sir  Gervaise,  too,  met  with  a  sudden  and  violent  check 
to  the  current  of  his  feelings.  He  had  collected  his  Bowl- 
deros,  and  was  giving  his  instructions  as  to  the  manner  in 
which  they  were  to  follow,  and  keep  near  his  person,  in  the 
expected  hand-to-hand  encounter,  when  the  heavy  rushing 
of  the  air,  and  the  swoop  of  the  mass  from  above,  announced 
what  had  occurred.  Turning  to  the  men,  he  calmly  order 
ed  them  to  aid  in  getting  rid  of  the  incumbrances,  and  was 
in  the  very  act  of  directing  Wycherly  to  join  in  the  same 
duty,  when  the  latter  exclaimed — 

"  See,  Sir  Gervaise,  here  comes  another  of  the  French 
men  close  upon  our  quarter.  By  heavens,  they  must  mean 
to  board !" 

The  vice-admiral  instinctively  grasped  his  sword-hilt 
tighter,  and  terned  in  the  direction  mentioned  by  his  com 
panion.  There,  indeed,  came  a  fresh  ship,  shoving  the 
cloud  aside,  and,  by  the  clearer  atmosphere  that  seemed  to 
accompany  her,  apparently  bringing  down  a  current  of  air 
stronger  than  common.  When  first  seen,  the  "jib-boom  and 
bowsprit  were  both  enveloped  in  smoke,  but  his  bellying  fore- 
top-sail,  and  the  canvass  hanging  in  festoons,  loomed  grandly 
in  the  vapour,  the  black  yards  seeming  to  embrace  the 
wreaths,  merely  to  cast  them  aside.  The  proximity,  too, 
was  tearful,  her  yard-arms  promising  to  clear  those  of  the 
Plantagenet  only  by  a  few  feet,  as  her  dark  bows  brushed 
along  the  admiral's  side. 

"  This  will  be  fearful  work,  indeed  !"  exclaimed  Sir  Ger 
vaise.  "  A  fresh  broadside  from  a  ship  so  near,  will  sweep 
all  from  the  spars.  Go,  Wychecombe,  tell  Greenly  to  call 
in — Hold  ! — T  is  an  English  ship  !  No  Frenchman's  bow 
sprit  stands  like  that !  Almighty  God  be  praised  !  Tis  the 
36 


422  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

Ccesar — there  is  the  old  Roman's  figure-head  just  shoving 
out  of  the  smoke !" 

This  was  said  with  a  yell,  rather  than  a  cry,  of  delight, 
and  in  a  voice  so  loud  that  the  words  were  heard  below,  and 
flew  through  the  ship  like  the  hissing  of  an  ascending  rocket. 
To  confirm  the  glorious  tidings,  the  flash  and  roar  of  guns 
on  the  off-side  of  the  stranger  announced  the  welcome  tid 
ings  that  le  Pluton  had  an  enemy  of  her  own  to  contend 
with,  thus  enabling  the  Plantagenet's  people  to  throw  all  their 
strength  on  the  starboard  guns,  and  pursue  their  other  ne 
cessary  work  without  further  molestation  from  the  French 
rear-admiral.  The  gratitude  of  Sir  Gervaise,  as  the  rescu 
ing  ship  thrust  herself  in  between  him  and  his  most  formi 
dable  assailant  was  too  deep  for  language.  He  placed  his 
hat  mechanically  before  his  face,  and  thanked  God,  with  a 
fervour  of  spirit  that  never  before  had  attended  his  thanks 
givings.  This  brief  act  of  devotion  over,  he  found  the  bows 
of  the  Csesar,  which  ship  was  advancing  very  slowly,  in 
order  not  to  pass  too  far  ahead,  just  abreast  of  the  spot 
where  he  stood,  and  so  near  that  objects  were  pretty  plainly 
visible.  Between  her  knight-heads  stood  Bluewater,  con 
ning  the  ship,  by  means  of  a  line  of  officers,  his  hat  in  his 
hand,  waving  in  encouragement  to  his  own  people,  while 
Geoffrey  Cleveland  held  the  trumpet  at  his  elbow.  At  that 
moment  three  noble  cheers  were  given  by  the  crews  of  the 
two  friendly  vessels,  and  mingled  with  the  increasing  roar 
of  the  Csesar's  artillery.  Then  the  smoke  rose  in  a  cloud 
over  the  forecastle  of  the  latter  ship,  and  persons  could  no 
longer  be  distinguished. 

Nevertheless,  like  all  that  thus  approached,  the  relieving 
ship  passed  slowly  ahead,  until  nearly  her  whole  length  pro 
tected  the  undefended  side  of  her  consort,  delivering  her  fire 
with  fearful  rapidity.  The  Plantagenets  seemed  to  imbibe 
new  life  from  this  arrival,  and  their  starboard  guns  spoke  out 
again,  as  if  manned  by  giants.  It  was  five  minutes,  per 
haps,  after  this  seasonable  arrival,  before  the  guns  of  the 
other  ships  of  the  English  rear  announced  their  presence  on 
the  outside  of  Monsieur  des  Prez's  force ;  thus  bringing  tho 
whole  of  the  two  fleets  into  four  lines,  all  steering  dead  be 
fore  the  wind,  and,  as  it  were,  interwoven  with  each  other. 
By  that  time,  the  poops  of  the  Plantagenet  and  Caesar  be- 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  428 

came  visible  from  one  to  the  other,  the  smoke  now  driving 
principally  off  from  the  vessels.  There  again  were  our  two 
admirals  each  anxiously  watching  to  get  a  glimpse  of  his 
friend.  The  instant  the  place  was  clear,  Sir  Gervaise  ap 
plied  the  trumpet  to  his  mouth,  and  called  out — 

"  God  bless  you — Dick  !  may  God  for  ever  bless  you — 
your  ship  can  do  it — clap  your  helm  hard  a-starboard?  and 
sheer  into  M.  des  Prez ;  you  Ml  have  him  in  five  minutes." 

Bluewater  smiled,  waved  his  hand,  gave  an  order,  and 
laid  aside  his  trumpet.  Two  minutes  later,  the  Ccesar 
sheered  into  the  smoke  on  her  larboard  beam,  and  the  crash 
of  the  meeting  vessels  was  heard.  By  this  time,  the  wreck 
of  the  Plantagenet  was  cut  adrift,  and  she,  too,  made  a  rank 
sheer,  though  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  of  the  Caesar's. 
As  she  went  through  the  smoke,  her  guns  ceased,  and  when 
she  emerged  into  the  pure  air,  it  was  found  that  le  Foudroy- 
ant  had  set  courses  and  top-gallant-sails,  and  was  draw 
ing  so  fast  ahead,  as  to  render  \  ursuit,  under  the  little  sail 
that  could  be  set,  unprofitable.  Signals  were  out  of  the 
question,  but  this  movement  of  the  two  admirals  converted 
the  whole  battle  scene  into  one  of  inexplicable  confusion. 
Ship  after  ship  changed  her  position,  and  ceased  her  fire 
from  uncertainty  what  that  position  was,  until  a  general 
silence  succeeded  the  roar  of  the  cannonade.  It  was  indis 
pensable  to  pause  and  let  the  smoke  blow  away. 

It  did  not  require  many  minutes  to  raise  the  curtain  on 
the  two  fleets.  As  soon  as  the  firing  stopped,  the  wind  in 
creased,  and  the  smoke  was  driven  off  to  leeward  in  a  vast 
straggling  cloud,  that  seemed  to  scatter  and  disperse  in  the 
air  spontaneously.  Then  a  sight  of  the  havoc  and  destruc 
tion  that  had  been  done  in  this  short  conflict  was  first 
obtained. 

The  two  squadrons  were  intermingled,  and  it  required 
some  little  time  for  Sir  Gervaise  to  get  a  clear  idea  of  the 
state  of  his  own  ships.  Generally,  it  might  be  said  that 
the  vessels  were  scattering,  the  French  sheering  towards 
their  own  coast,  while  the  English  were  principally  coming 
by  the  wind  on  the  larboard  tack,  or  heading  in  towards 
England.  The  Caesar  and  le  Pluton  were  still  foul  of  each 
other,  though  a  rear-admiral's  flag  was  flying  at  the  mizzen 
of  the  first,  while  that  which  had  so  lately  fluttered  at  the 


424  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

royal-mast-head  of  the  other,  had  disappeared.  The  Achilles, 
Lord  Morganic,  was  still  among  the  French,  more  to  leeward 
than  any  other  English  ship,  without  a  single  spar  standing. 
Her  ensigns  were  flying,  notwithstanding,  and  the  Thunderer 
and  Dublin,  both  in  tolerable  order,  were  edging  away  rapidly 
to  cover  their  cr  ppled  consort ;  though  the  nearest  French 
vessels  seemed  more  bent  on  getting  out  of  the  melee,  and 
into  their  own  line  again,  than  on  securing  any  advantage 
already  obtained.  Le  Temeraire  was  in  the  same  predica 
ment  as  the  Achilles  as  to  spars,  though  much  more  injured 
in  her  hull,  besides  having  thrice  as  many  casualties.  Her 
flag  was  down ;  this  ship  having  fairly  struck  to  the  War- 
spite,  whose  boats  were  already  alongside  of  her.  Le  Fou- 
droyant,  with  quite  one-third  of  her  crew  killed  and  wounded, 
was  running  off  to  leeward,  with  signals  flying  for  her  con 
sorts  to  rally  round  her ;  but,  within  less  than  ten  minutes 
after  she  became  visible,  her  main  and  mizzen-masts  both 
went.  The  Blenheim  had  lost  all  her  top-masts,  like  the 
Plantagenet,  and  neither  the  Elizabeth  nor  the  York  had  a 
mizzen-mast  standing,  although  engaged  but  a  very  short 
time.  Several  lower  yards  were  shot  away,  or  so  much  in 
jured  as  to  compel  the  ships  to  shorten  sail ;  this  accident 
having  occurred  in  both  fleets.  As  for  the  damage  done  to 
the  standing  and  running  rigging,  and  to  the  sails,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  say  that  shrouds,  back  and  head-stays,  braces, 
bowlines  and  lifts,  were  dangling  in  all  directions,  while  the 
canvass  that  was  open  exhibited  all  sorts  of  rents,  from  that 
which  had  been  torn  like  cloth  in  the  shopman's  hands,  to 
the  little  eyelet  holes  of  the  canister  and  grape.  It  appeared, 
by  the  subsequent  reports  of  the  two  parties,  that,  in  this 
short  but  severe  conflict,  the  slain  and  wounded  of  the 
English  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  sixty-three,  includ 
ing  officers ;  and  that  of  the  French,  to  one  thousand  four 
hundred  and  twelve.  The  disparity  in  this  respect  would 
probably  have  been  greater  against  the  latter,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  manner  in  which  M.  des  Prez  succeeded  in 
doubling  on  his  enemies. 

Little  need  be  said  in  explanation  of  the  parts  of  this  battle 
that  have  not  been  distinctly  related.  M.  des  Prez  had  ma 
noeuvred  in  the  manner  he  did,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
affair,  ir  the  hope  of  drawing  Sir  Gervaise  down  upon  th« 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  425 

division  of  the  Comte  de  Vervillin ;  and,  no  sooner  did  he 
see  the  first  fairly  enveloped  in  smoke,  than  he  wore  short 
round,  and  joined  in  the  affair,  as  has  been  mentioned.  At 
this  sight,  Bluewater's  loyalty  to  the  Stuarts  could  resist  no 
longer.  Throwing  out  a  general  signal  to  engage,  he  squared 
away,  set  everything  that  would  draw  on  the  Csesar,  and 
arrived  in  time  to  save  his  friend.  The  other  ships  fol 
lowed,  engaging  on  the  outside,  for  want  of  room  to  imitate 
their  leader. 

Two  more  of  the  French  ships,  at  least,  in  addition  to 
le  Temeraire  and  le  Pluton,  might  have  been  added  to 
the  list  of  prizes,  had  the  actual  condition  of  their  fleet  been 
known.  But,  at  such  moments,  a  combatant  sees  and  feels 
his  own  injuries,  while  he  has  to  conjecture  many  of  those 
of  his  adversaries ;  and  the  English  were  too  much  occupied 
in  making  the  provisions  necessary  to  save  their  remaining 
spars,  to  risk  much  in  order  to  swell  an  advantage  that  was 
already  so  considerable.  Some  distant  firing  passed  be 
tween  the  Thunderer  and  Dublin,  and  1'Ajax,  le  Dugay 
Trouin,  and  1'Hector,  before  the  two  former  succeeded  in 
getting  Lord  Morganic  out  of  his  difficulties  ;  but  it  led  to  no 
material  result ;  merely  inflicting  new  injuries  on  certain 
spars  that  were  sufficiently  damaged  before,  and  killing  and 
wounding  some  fifteen  or  twenty  men  quite  uselessly.  As 
soon  as  the  vice-admiral  saw  what  was  likely  to  be  the 
effects  of  this  episode,  he  called  off  Captain  O'Neil  of  the 
Dublin,  by  signal,  he  being  an  officer  of  a  "  hot  temper,"  as 
the  soldier  said  of  himself  at  Waterloo.  The  compliance 
with  this  order  may  be  said  to  have  terminated  the  battle. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  the  wind,  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  engagement,  was  at  north-west.  It  was 
nearly  "  killed,"  as  seamen  express  it,  by  the  cannonade  ; 
then  it  revived  a  little,  as  the  concussions  of  the  guns  gradu 
ally  diminished.  But  the  combined  effect  of  the  advance  of 
the  day,  and  the  rushing  of  new  currents  of  air  to  fill  the 
vacuums  produced  by  the  burning  of  so  much  powder,  was 
a  sudden  shift  of  wind ;  a  breeze  coming  out  strong,  and  as 
it  might  be,  in  an  instant,  from  the  eastward.  This  unex 
pected  alteration  in  the  direction  and  power  of  the  wind,  cost 
the  Thunderer  her  foremast,  and  did  other  damage  to  dif 
ferent  ships ;  but,  by  dint  of  great  activity  and  careful 
36* 


426  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

handling,  all  the  English  vessels  got  their  heads  round  to 
the  northward,  while  the  French  filled  the  other  way,  and 
we.it  off  free,  steering  nearly  south-east,  making  the  best  of 
their  way  for  Brest.  The  latter  suffered  still  more  than 
their  enemies,  by  the  change  just  mentioned  ;  and  when  they 
reached  port,  as  did  all  but  one  the  following  day,  no  less 
than  three  were  towed  in  without  a  spar  standing,  bowsprits 
excepted. 

The  exception  was  le  Caton,  which  ship  M.  de  Vervillin 
set  fire  to  and  blew  up,  on  account  of  her  damages,  in  the 
course  of  the  afternoon.  Thus  of  twelve  noble  two-decked 
ships  with  which  this  officer  sailed  from  Cherbourg  only 
two  days  before,  he  reached  Brest  with  but  seven. 

Nor  were  the  English  entirely  without  their  embarrass 
ments.  Although  the  Warspite  had  compelled  leTemeraire  to 
strike,  she  was  kept  afloat  herself  with  a  good  deal  of  diffi 
culty,  and  that,  too,  not  without  considerable  assistance 
from  the  other  vessels.  The  leaks,  however,  were  eventu 
ally  stopped,  and  then  the  ship  was  given  up  to  the  care  of 
her  own  crew.  Other  vessels  suffered  of  course,  but  no 
English  ship  was  in  as  much  jeopardy  as  this. 

The  first  hour  after  the  action  ceased,  was  one  of  great 
exertion  and  anxiety  to  our  admiral.  He  called  the  Chloe 
alongside  by  signal,  and.  attended  by  Wycherly  and  his 
own  quarter-masters,  Galleygo,  who  went  without  orders, 
and  the  Bowlderos  who  were  unhurt,  he  shifted  his  flag  to 
that  frigate.  Then  he  immediately  commenced  passing  from 
vessel  to  vessel,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  actual  condition  of 
his  command.  The  Achilles  detained  him  some  time,  and 
he  was  near  her,  or  to  leeward,  when  the  wind  shifted  ;  which 
was  bringing  him  to  windward  in  the  present  state  of  things. 
Of  this  advantage  he  availed  himself,  by  urging  the  differ 
ent  ships  off  as  fast  as  possible ;  and  long  before  the  sun 
was  in  the  meridian,  all  the  English  vessels  were  making 
the  best  of  their  way  towards  the  land,  with  the  intention  of 
fetching  into  Plymouth  if  possible ;  if  not,  into  the  nearest 
and  best  anchorage  to  leeward.  The  progress  of  the  fleet 
was  relatively  slow,  as  a  matter  of  course,  though  it  got 
along  at  the  rate  of  some  five  knots,  by  making  a  free  wind 
of  it. 

The  master  of  the  Chloe  had  just  taken  the  sun,  in  order 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  427 

to  ascertain  his  latitude,  when  the  vice-admiral  commanded 
Denham  to  set  top-gallant-sails,  and  go  within  hail  of  the 
Caesar.  That  ship  had  got  clear  of  le  Pluton  half  an  hour 
after  the  action  ceased,  and  she  was  now  leading  the  fleet, 
with  hur  three  topsails  on  the  caps.  Aloft  she  had  suffered 
comparatively  little  ;  bat  Sir  Gervaise  knew  that  there  must 
have  been  a  serious  loss  of  men  in  carrying,  hand  to  hand, 
a  vessel  like  that  of  M.  des  Prez.  He  was  anxious  to  see 
his  friend,  and  to  hear  the  manner  in  which  his  success  had 
been  obtained,  and,  we  might  add,  to  remonstrate  with  Blue- 
water  on  a  course  that  had  led  the  latter  to  the  verge  of  a 
most  dangerous  abyss. 

The  Chloe  was  half  an  hour  running  through  the  fleet, 
which  was  a  good  deal  extended,  and  was  sailing  without 
any  regard  to  a  line.  Sir  Gervaise  had  many  questions  to 
ask,  too,  of  the  different  commanders  in  passing.  At  last 
the  frigate  overtook  le  Temeraire,  which  vessel  was  follow 
ing  the  Caesar  under  easy  canvass.  As  the  Chloe  came  up 
abeam,  Sir  Gervaise  appeared  in  the  gangway  of  the  fri 
gate,  and,  hat  in  hand,  he  asked  with  an  accent  that  was 
intelligible,  though  it  might  not  have  absolutely  stood  the 
test  of  criticism,  — 

"  Le  Vice- Admiral  Oakes  demande  comment  se  porte-il, 
le  contre-amiral,  le  Vicomte  des  Prez  ?" 

A  little  elderly  man,  dressed  with  extreme  care,  with  a 
powdered  head,  but  of  a  firm  step  and  perfectly  collected 
expression  of  countenance,  appeared  on  the  verge  of  le  Te- 
meraire's  poop,  trumpet  in  hand,  to  reply. 

"  Le  Vicomte  des  Prez  remercie  bien  Monsieur  le  Che 
valier  Oake,  et  desire  vivement  de  savoir  comment  se  porte 
Monsieur  le  Vice-Amiral  ?" 

Mutual  waves  of  the  trumpets  served  as  replies  to  the 
questions,  and  then,  after  taking  a  moment  to  muster  his 
French,  Sir  Gervaise  continued — 

"  .respere  voir  Monsieur  le  Contre-Amiral  d  diner,  d 
cinq  heures,  precis." 

The  vicomte  smiled  at  this  characteristic  manifestation  of 
good-will  and  courtesy ;  and  after  pausing  an  instant  to 
choose  an  expression  to  soften  his  refusal,  and  to  express 
his  own  sense  of  the  motive  of  the  invitation,  he  called  out — 

"  Veuillez  bien  recevoir  nos  excuses  pour  aujourd''huit 


428  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

Mons.  le  Chevalier.  Nous  n'avons  pas  encore  digeri  le  re- 
pas  si  noble  ie$u  d  vos  mains  comme  dejeuner." 

The  Chloe  passing  ahead,  bows  terminated  the  interview. 
Sir  Gervaise's  French  was  at  fault,  for  what  between  the 
rapid,  neat,  pronunciation  of  the  Frenchman,  the  trumpet, 
and  the  turn  of  the  expression,  he  did  not  comprehend  the 
meaning  of  the  contre-amiral. 

"What  does  he  say,  Wychecombe?"  he  asked  eagerly 
of  the  young  man.  "  Will  he  come,  or  not  ?" 

"  Upon  my  word,  Sir  Gervaise,  French  is  a  sealed  lan 
guage  to  me.  Never  having  been  a  prisoner,  no  opportu 
nity  has  offered  for  acquiring  the  language.  As  I  under 
stood,  you  intended  to  ask  him  to  dinner ;  I  rather  think, 
from  his  countenance,  he  meant  to  say  he  was  not  in  spirits 
for  the  entertainment." 

"  Pooh  !  we  would  have  put  him  in  spirits,  and  Bluewaler 
could  have  talked  to  him  in  his  own  tongue,  by  the  fathom. 
We  will  close  with  the  Csesar  to  leeward,  Denham ;  never 
mind  rank  on  an  occasion  like  this.  It 's  time  to  let  the  top 
gallant-halyards  run ;  you  '11  have  to  settle  your  top-sails 
too,  or  we  shall  shoot  past  her.  Bluewater  may  take  it  as 
a  salute  to  his  gallantry  in  carrying  so  fine  a  ship  in  so 
handsome  a  manner." 

Several  minutes  now  passed  in  silence,  during  which  the 
frigate  was  less  and  less  rapidly  closing  with  the  larger  ves 
sel,  drawing  ahead  towards  the  last,  as  it  might  be,  foot  by 
foot.  Sir  Gervaise  got  upon  one  of  the  quarter-deck  guns, 
and  steadying  himself  against  the  hammock-cloths,  he  was 
in  readiness  to  exchange  the  greetings  he  was  accustomed 
to  give  and  to  receive  from  his  friend,  in  the  same  heartfelt 
manner  as  if  nothing  had  occurred  to  disturb  the  harmony 
of  their  feelings.  The  single  glance  of  the  eye,  the  waving 
of  the  hat,  and  the  noble  manner  in  which  Bluewater  inter 
posed  between  him  and  his  most  dangerous  enemy,  was  still 
present  to  his  mind,  and  disposed  him  even  more  than  com 
mon  to  the  kindest  feelings  of  his  nature.  Stowel  was  already 
on  the  poop  of  the  Csesar,  and,  as  the  Chloe  came  slowly 
on,  he  raised  his  hat  in  deference  to.  the  commander-in-chief. 
It  was  a  point  of  delicacy  with  Sir  Gervaise  never  to  inter 
fere  with  any  subordinate  flag-officer's  vessel  any  moro  than 
duty  rigidly  required;  consequently  his  communications 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  429 

with  the  captain  of  the  Csesar  had  usually  been  of  a  gene 
ral  nature,  verbal  orders  and  criticisms  being  studiously 
avoided.  This  circumstance  rendered  the  commander-in- 
chief  even  a  greater  favourite  than  common  with  Stowel, 
who  had  all  his  own  way  in  his  own  ship,  in  consequence  of 
the  rear-admiral's  indifference  to  such  matters. 

"  How  do  you  do,  Stowel  1"  called  out  Sir  Gervaise,  cor 
dially.  "  I  am  delighted  to  see  you  on  your  legs,  and  hope 
the  old  Roman  is  not  much  the  worse  for  this  day's  treat 
ment." 

"  I  thank  you,  Sir  Gervaise,  we  are  both  afloat  yet,  though 
we  have  passed  through  warm  times.  The  ship  is  damaged, 
sir,  as  you  may  suppose ;  and,  although  it  stands  so  bravely, 
and  looks  so  upright,  that  foremast  of  ours  is  as  good  as  a 
condemned  spar.  One  thirty-two  through  the  heart  of  it, 
about  ten  feet  from  the  deck,  an  eighteen  in  the  hounds,  and 
a  double-header  sticking  in  one  of  the  hoops  !  A  spar  can 
not  be  counted  for  much  that  has  as  many  holes  in  it  as 
those,  sir !" 

"  Deal  tenderly  with  it,  my  old  friend,  and  spare  the  can 
vass  ;  those  chaps  at  Plymouth  will  set  all  to  rights,  again, 
in  a  week.  Hoops  can  be  had  for  asking,  and  as  for  holes 
in  the  heart,  many  a  poor  fellow  has  had  them,  and  lived 
through  it  all.  You  are  a  case  in  point ;  Mrs.  Stowel  not 
having  spared  you  in  that  way,  I  '11  answer  for  it." 

"  Mrs.  Stowel  commands  ashore,  Sir  Gervaise,  and  I 
command  afloat ;  and,  in  that  way,  we  keep  a  quiet  ship 
and  a  quiet  house,  I  thank  you,  sir ;  and  I  endeavour  to 
think  of  her  at  sea,  as  little  as  possible." 

"  Ay,  that 's  the  way  with  you  doting  husbands ; — always 
ashamed  of  your  own  lively  sensibilities.  But  what  has 
become  of  Bluewater  ? — Does  he  know  that  we  are  along 
side?" 

Stowel  looked  round,  cast  his  eyes  up  at  the  sails,  and 
played  with  the  hilt  of  his  sword.  The  rapid  eye  of  the 
commander-in-chief  detected  this  embarrassment,  and  quick 
as  thought  he  demanded  what  had  happened. 

"  Why,  Sir  Gervaise,  you  know  how  it  is  with  some  ad 
mirals,  who  like  to  be  in  everything.  I  told  our  respected 
and  beloved  friend,  that  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  boarding  ; 
that  if  either  oi  us  was  to  go,  7  was  the  proper  man  ;  but 


430  THE     TWO    ADMIRALS. 

that  we  ought  both  to  stick  by  the  ship.  He  answered  some 
thing  about  lost  honour  and  duty,  arid  you  know,  sir,  what 
legs  he  has,  when  he  wishes  to  use  them  !  One  might  as 
well  think  of  stopping  a  deserter  by  a  halloo  ;  away  he  went, 
with  the  first  party,  sword  in  hand,  a  sight  I  never  saw 
before,  and  never  wish  to  see  again  !  Thus  you  see  how  it 
was,  sir." 

The  commander-in-chief  compressed  his  lips,  until  his 
features,  and  indeed  his  whole  form  was  a  picture  of  desperate 
resolution,  though  his  face  was  as  pale  as  death,  and  the 
muscles  of  his  mouth  twitched,  in  spite  of  all.  his  physical 
self-command. 

"  I  understand  you,  sir,"  he  said,  in  a  voice  that  seemed 
to  issue  from  his  chest ;  "  you  wish  to  say  that  Admiral 
Bluewater  is  killed." 

"  No,  thank  God  !  Sir  Gervaise,  not  quite  as  bad  as  that, 
though  sadly  hurt ;  yes,  indeed,  very  sadly  hurt !" 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  groaned,  and  for  a  few  minutes  he 
leaned  his  head  on  the  hammock-cloths,  veiling1  his  face 
from  the  sight  of  men.  Then  he  raised  his  person  erect,  and 
said  steadily — 

"  Run  your  top-sails  to  the  mast-head,  Captain  Stowel, 
and  round  your  ship  to.  I  will  come  on  board  of  you." 

An  order  was  given  to  Denham  to  take  room,  when  the 
Chloe  came  to  the  wind  on  one  tack  and  the  Caesar  on  the 
other.  This  was  contrary  to  rule,  as  it  increased  the  dis 
tance  between  the  ships  ;  but  the  vice-admiral  was  impatient 
10  be  in  his  barge.  In  ten  minutes  he  was  mounting  the 
Caesar's  side,  and  in  two  more  he  was  in  Bluewater's  main- 
cabin.  Geoffrey  Cleveland  was  seated  by  the  table,  with 
his  face  buried  in  his  arms.  Touching  his  shoulder,  the  boy 
raised  his  head,  and  showed  a  face  covered  with  tears. 

"  How  is  he,  boy  ?"  demanded  Sir  Gervaise,  hoarsely, 
"  Do  the  surgeons  give  any  hopes  ?" 

The  midshipman  shook  his  head,  and  then,  as  if  the  ques 
tion  renewed  his  grief,  he  again  buried  his  face  in  his  arms. 
At  this  moment,  the  surgeon  of  the  ship  came  from  the  rear- 
admiral's  state-room,  and  following  the  commander-in-chief 
into  the  after-cabin,  they  had  a  long  conference  together. 

Minute  after  minute  passed,  and  the  Cofisar  and  Chloe  still 
lay  with  their  main-top-sails  aback.  At  the  end  of  half  an 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  431 

hour,  Denham  wore  round  and  laid  the  head  of  his  frigate 
in  the  proper  direction.  Ship  after  ship  came  up,  and  wen* 
on  to  the  northward,  fast  as  her  crippled  state  would  allow, 
and  yet  no  sign  of  movement  was  seen  in  the  Ciesar.  Two 
sail  had  appeared  in  the  south-eastern  board,  and  they,  too, 
approached  and  passed  without  bringing  the  vice-admiral 
even  on  deck.  These  ships  proved  to  be  the  Carnatic  and 
her  prize,  le  Scipion,  which  latter  ship  had  been  intercepted 
and  easily  captured  by  the  former.  The  steering  of  M.  de 
Vervillin  to  the  south-west  had  left  a  clear  passage  to  the 
two  ships,  which  were  coming  down  with  a  free  wind  at  a 
handsome  rate  of  sailing.  This  news  was  sent  into  the 
Caesar's  cabin,  but  it  brought  no  person  and  no  answer  out 
of  it.  At  length,  when  everything  had  gone  ahead,  the 
barge  returned  to  the  Chloe.  It  merely  took  a  note,  how 
ever,  which  was  no  sooner  read  by  Wycherly,  than  he  sum 
moned  the  Bowlderos  and  Galleygo,  had  all  the  vice-ad 
miral's  luggage  passed  into  the  boat,  struck  his  flag,  and 
took  his  leave  of  Denham.  As  soon  as  the  boat  was  cleai 
of  the  frigate,  the  latter  made  all  sail  after  the  fleet,  to 
resume  her  ordinary  duties  of  a  look-out  and  a  repeating- 
ship. 

As  soon  as  Wycherly  reached  the  Ccesar,  that  ship  hoisted 
in  the  vice-admiral's  barge.  A  report  was  made  to  Sir  Ger- 
vaise  of  what  had  been  done,  and  then  an  order  came  on 
deck  that  occasioned  all  in  the  fleet  to  stare  with  surprise. 
The  red  flag  of  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes  was  run  up  at  the  fore- 
royal-mast-head  of  the  Caesar,  while  the  white  flag  of  the 
rear-admiral  was  still  flying  at  her  mizzen.  Such  a  thing 
had  never  before  been  known  to  happen,  if  it  has  ever  hap 
pened  since ;  and  to  the  time  when  she  was  subsequently 
lost,  the  Cs&sax  was  known  as  the  double  flag-ship. 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

**  He  spoke  ;  when  behold  the  fair  Gerald ine's  form 

On  the  canvass  enchantingly  glowed  ; 
His  touches,  they  flew  like  the  leaves  in  a  storm ; 
And  the  pure  pearly  white,  and  the  carnation  warm, 
Contending  in  harmony  flowed." 

ALSTON. 

WE  shall  now  ask  permission  of  the  reader  to  advance 
the  time  just  eight-and-forty  hours  ;  a  liberty  with  the  unities 
which,  he  will  do  us  the  justice  to  say,  we  have  not  often 
taken.  We  must  also  transfer  the  scene  to  that  already 
described  at  Wychecombe,  including  the  Head,  the  station, 
the  roads,  and  the  inland  and  seaward  views.  Summer 
weather  had  returned,  too,  the  pennants  of  the  ships  at  an 
chor  scarce  streaming  from  their  masts  far  enough  to  form 
curved  lines.  Most  of  the  English  fleet  was  among  these 
vessels,  though  the  squadron  had  undergone  some  changes. 
The  Druid  had  got  into  Portsmouth  with  la  Victoire;  the 
Driver  and  Active  had  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the 
nearest  ports,  with  despatches  for  the  admiralty ;  and  the 
Achilles,  in  tow  of  the  Dublin,  with  the  Chloe  to  take  care 
of  both,  had  gone  to  leeward,  with  square  yards,  in  the 
hope  of  making  Falmouth.  The  rest  of  the  force  was  pre 
sent,  the  crippled  ships  having  been  towed  into  the  roads  that 
morning.  The  picture  among  the  shipping  was  one  of  ex 
treme  activity  and  liveliness.  Jury-masts  were  going  up  in 
the  Warspite;  lower  and  top-sail-yards  were  down  to  be 
fished,  or  new  ones  were  rigging  to  be  sent  aloft  in  their 
places;  the  Plantagenet  was  all  a-tanto,  again,  in  readiness 
for  another  action,  with  rigging  secured  and  masts  fished, 
while  none  but  an  instructed  eye  could  have  detected,  at  a 
short  distance,  that  the  Coesar,  Carnatic,  Dover,  York,  Eliz 
abeth,  and  one  or  two  more,  had  been  in  action  at  all.  The 
landing  was  crowded  with  boats  as  before,  and  gun-room 
servants  and  midshipmen's  boys  were  foraging  as  usual  ; 
BOme  with  honest  intent  to  find  delicacies  for  the  wounded, 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  433 

but  more  with  the  roguish  design  of  contributing  to  the  com 
forts  of  the  unhurt,  by  making  appeals  to  the  sympathies  of 
the  women  of  the  neighbourhood,  in  behalf  of  the  hurt. 

The  principal  transformation  that  had  been  brought  about 
by  this  state  of  things,  however,  was  apparent  at  the  station. 
This  spot  had  the  appearance  of  a  place  to  which  the  head 
quarters  of  an  army  had  been  transferred,  in  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  field  ;  warlike  sailors,  if  not  soldiers,  flocking  to  it,  as 
the  centre  of  interest  and  intelligence.  Still  there  was  a 
singularity  observable  in  the  manner  in  which  these  heroes 
of  the  deck  paid  their  court ;  the  cottage  being  seemingly 
tabooed,  or  at  most,  approached  by  very  few,  while  the  grass 
at  the  foot  of  the  flag-staff  was  already  beginning  to  show 
proofs  of  the  pressure  of  many  feet.  This  particular  spot, 
indeed,  was  the  centre  of  attraction ;  there  officers  of  all 
ranks  and  ages  were  constantly  arriving,  and  thence  they 
were  as  often  departing ;  all  bearing  countenances  sobered 
by  anxiety  and  apprehension.  Notwithstanding  the  con 
stant  mutations,  there  had  been  no  instant  since  the  rising 
of  the  sun,  when  some  ten  or  twelve,  at  least,  including 
captains,  lieutenants,  masters  and  idlers,  had  not  been  col 
lected  around  the  bench  at  the  foot  of  the  signal-staff,  and 
frequently  the  number  reached  even  to  twenty. 

A  little  retired  from  the  crowd,  and  near  the  verge  of  the 
cliff,  a  large  tent  had  been  pitched.  A  marine  paced  in  its 
front,  as  a  sentinel.  Another  stood  near  the  gate  of  the  little 
door-yard  of  the  cottage,  and  all  persons  who  approached 
either,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  of  the  privileged,  were 
referred  to  the  sergeant  who  commanded  the  guard.  The 
arms  of  the  latter  were  stacked  on  the  grass,  at  hand,  and 
the  men  off  post  were  loitering  near.  These  were  the  usual 
military  signs  of  the  presence  of  officers  of  rank,  and  may. 
in  sooth,  be  taken  as  clues  to  the  actual  state  of  things,  on 
and  around  the  Head. 

Admiral  Bluewater  lay  in  the  cottage,  while  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes  occupied  the  tent.  The  former  had  been  transferred 
to  the  place  where  he  was  about  to  breathe  his  last,  at  his 
own  urgent  request,  while  his  friend  had  refused  to  be  sepa 
rated  from  him,  so  long  as  life  remained.  The  two  flags 
were  still  flying  at  the  mast-heads  of  the  CaBsar,  a  sort  of 
melancholy  memorial  of  the  tie  that  had  so  long  bound  their 
37 


434  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS. 

gallant  owners  in  the  strong  sympathies  of  an  enduring  per 
sonal  and  professional  friendship. 

Persons  of  the  education  of  Mrs.  Dutton  and  her  daughter, 
had  not  dwelt  so  long  on  that  beautiful  headland,  without 
leaving  on  the  spot  some  lasting  impressions  of  their  tastes. 
Of  the  cottage,  we  have  already  spoken.  The  little  garden, 
too,  then  bright  with  flowers,  had  a  grace  and  refinement 
about  it  that  we  would  hardly  have  expected  to  meet  in  such 
a  place;  and  even  the  paths  that  led  athwart  the  verdant  com 
mon  which  spread  over  so  much  of  the  upland,  had  been 
directed  with  an  eye  to  the  picturesque  and  agreeable.  One 
of  these  paths,  too,  led  to  a  rustic  summer-house — a  sort  of 
small,  rude  pavilion,  constructed,  like  the  fences,  of  frag 
ments  of  wrecks,  and  placed  on  a  shelf  of  the  cliff,  at  a 
dizzy  elevation,  but  in  perfect  security.  So  far  from  there 
being  any  danger  in  entering  this  summer-house,  indeed, 
Wycherly,  during  his  six  months'  residence  near  the  Head, 
had  made  a  path  that  descended  still  lower,  to  a  point  that 
was  utterly  concealed  from  all  eyes  above,  and  had  actually 
planted  a  seat  on  another  shelf,  with  so  much  security,  that 
both  Mildred  and  her  mother  often  visited  it  in  company. 
During  the  young  man's  recent  absence,  the  poor  girl,  in 
deed,  had  passed  much  of  her  time  there,  weeping  and  suf 
fering  in  solitude.  To  this  seat,  Dutton  never  ventured ; 
the  descent,  though  well  protected  with  ropes,  requiring 
greater  steadiness  of  foot  and  head  than  intemperance  had 
left  him.  Once  or  twice,  Wycherly  had  induced  Mildred 
to  pass  an  hour  with  him  alone  in  this  romantic  place,  and 
some  of  his  sweetest  recollections  of  this  just-minded  and  in 
telligent  girl,  were  connected  with  the  frank  communications 
that  had  there  occurred  between  them.  On  this  bench  he 
was  seated  at  the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  present  chapter. 
The  movement  on  the  Head,  and  about  the  cottage,  was  so 
great,  as  to  deprive  him  of  every  chance  of  seeing  Mildred 
alone,  and  he  had  hoped  that,  led  by  some  secret  sympathy, 
she,  too,  might  seek  this  perfectly  retired  seat,  to  obtain  a 
moment  of  unobserved  solitude,  if  not  from  some  still  dearer 
motive.  He  had  not  waited  long,  ere  he  heard  a  heavy 
foot  over  his  head,  and  a  man  entered  the  summer-house. 
He  was  yet  debating  whether  to  abandon  all  hopes  of 
seeing  Mildred,  when  his  acute  ear  caught  her  light  and 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  435 

well-known   footstep,  as  she  reached   the   summer-house, 
also. 

"  Father,  I  have  come  as  you  desired,"  said  the  poor  girl, 
in  those  tremulous  tones  which  Wycherly  too  well  under 
stood,  not  to  imagine  the  condition  of  Button.  "  Admiral 
Bluewater  dozes,  and  mother  has  permitted  me  to  steal 
away." 

"  Ay,  Admiral  Bluewater  is  a  great  man,  though  but  little 
better  than  a  dead  one !"  answered  Button,  as  harshly  in 
manner  as  the  language  was  coarse.  "  You  and  your 
mother  are  all  attention  to  him ;  did  /  lie  in  his  place 
which  of  you  would  be  found  hanging  over  my  bed,  with 
pale  cheeks  and  tearful  eyes  ?" 

"  Both  of  us,  father  !  Do  not — do  not  think  so  ill  of 
your  wife  and  daughter,  as  to  suppose  it  possible  that  either 
of  them  could  forget  her  duty." 

"  Yes,  duty  might  do  something,  perhaps ;  what  has  duty 
to  do  with  this  useless  rear-admiral  ?  I  hate  the  scoundrel — 
he  was  one  of  the  court  that  cashiered  me  ;  and  one,  too, 
that  I  am  told,  was  the  most  obstinate  in  refusing  to  help 
me  into  this  pitiful  berth  of  a  master." 

Mildred  was  silent.  She  could  not  vindicate  her  friend 
without  criminating  her  father.  As  for  Wycherly,  he  would 
have  given  a  year's  income  to  be  at  sea,  and  yet  he  shrunk 
from  wounding  the  poor  daughter's  feelings  by  letting  her 
know  he  overheard  the  dialogue.  This  indecision  made 
him  the  unwilling  auditor  of  a  conversation  that  he  ought 
not  to  have  heard — an  occurrence  which,  had  there  been 
time  for  reflection,  he  would  have  taken  means  to  prevent. 

"  Sit  you  down  here,  Mildred,"  resumed  Button,  sternly, 
"  and  listen  to  what  I  have  to  say.  It  is  time  that  there 
should  no  longer  be  any  trifling  between  us.  You  have  the 
fortunes  of  your  mother  and  myself  in  your  hands  ;  and,  as 
one  of  the  parties  so  deeply  concerned,  I  am  determined 
mine  shall  be  settled  at  once." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  father,"  said  Mildred,  with  a 
tremour  in  her  voice  that  almost  induced  the  young  man  to 
show  himself,  though,  we  owe  it  to  truth  to  say,  that  a  lively 
curiosity  now  mingled  with  his  other  sensations.  "  Flow  can 
I  have  the  keeping  of  dear  mother's  fortunes  and  yours  ?" 

"  Dear  mother,  truly  ! — Dear  enough  has  she  proved  to 


436  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

me ;  but  I  intend  the  daughter  shall  pay  for  it.  Hark  you, 
Mildred  ;  I  '11  have  no  more  of  this  trifling — but  I  ask  you, 
in  a  father's  name,  if  any  man  has  offered  you  his  hand  1 
Speak  plainly,  and  conceal  nothing — I  will  be  answered." 

"  I  wish  to  conceal  nothing,  father,  that  ought  to  be  told ; 
but  when  a  young  woman  declines  the  honour  that  another 
does  her  in  this  way,  ought  she  to  reveal  the  secret,  even  to 
her  father?" 

"  She  ought ;  and,  in  your  case,  she  shall.  No  more 
hesitation ;  name  one  of  the  offers  you  have  had." 

Mildred,  after  a  brief  pause,  in  a  low,  tremulous  voice, 
pronounced  the  name  of  "  Mr.  Rotherham," 

"  I  suspected  as  much,"  growled  Dutton  ;  "  there  was  a 
time  when  even  he  might  have  answered,  but  we  can  do 
better  than  that  now.  Still  he  may  be  kept  as  a  reserve ; 
the  thousand  pounds  Mr.  Thomas  says  shall  be  paid,  and 
that  and  the  living  will  make  a  comfortable  port  after  a 
stormy  life.  Well,  who  next,  Mildred  ?  Has  Mr.  Thomas 
Wychecombe  ever  come  to  the  point  ?" 

"  He  has  asked  me  to  become  his  wife,  within  the  last 
twenty-four  hours,  father  ;  if  that  is  what  you  mean." 

"  No  affectations,  Milly  ;  I  can't  bear  them.  You  know 
well  enough  what  I  mean.  What  was  your  answer  ?" 

"  I  do  not  love  him  in  the  least,  father,  and,  of  course,  I 
told  him  I  could  not  marry  him." 

"  That  don't  follow  of  course,  by  any  means,  girl !  The 
marrying  is  done  by  the  priest,  and  the  love  is  a  very  dif 
ferent  thing.  I  hope  you  consider  Mrs.  Dutton  as  my 
wife?" 

"  What  a  question  !"  murmured  Mildred. 

"  Well,  and  do  you  suppose  she  loves  me ;  can  love  me, 
now  I  am  a  disgraced,  impoverished  man  ?" 

"  Father !" 

"  Come — come — enough  of  this.  Mr.  Thomas  Wyche 
combe  may  not  be  legitimate — I  rather  think  he  is  not,  by 
the  proofs  Sir  Reginald  has  produced  within  the  last  day  or 
two ;  and  I  understand  his  own  mother  is  dissatisfied  with 
him,  and  that  will  knock  his  claim  flat  aback.  Notwithstand 
ing,  Mildred,  Tom  Wychecombe  has  a  good  six  hundred  a 
year  already,  and  Sir  Reginald  himself  admits  that  he  must 
take  all  the  personal  property  the  late  baronet  could  leave.' 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  43  / 

"  You  forget,  father,"  said  Mildred,  conscious  of  the  inef- 
ficacy  of  any  other  appeal,  "  that  Mr.  Thomas  has  promised 
to  pay  the  legacies  that  Sir  Wycherly  intended  to  leave." 

"  Don't  place  any  expectations  on  that,  Mildred.  I  dare 
say  he  would  settle  ten  of  the  twenty  thousand  on  you  to- 
morrow,  if  you  would  consent  to  have  him.  But,  now,  as 
to  this  new  baronet,  for  it  seems  he  is  to  have  both  title  and 
estate — has  he  ever  offered  ?" 

There  was  a  long  pause,  during  which  Wycherly  thought 
he  heard  the  hard  but  suppressed  breathing  of  Mildred.  To 
remain  quiet  any  longer,  he  felt  was  as  impossible  as,  in 
deed,  his  conscience  told  him  was  dishonourable,  and  he 
sprang  along  the  path  to  ascend  to  the  summer-house.  At 
the  first  sound  of  his  footstep,  a  faint  cry  escaped  Mildred  ; 
but  when  Wycherly  entered  the  pavilion,  he  found  her  face 
buried  in  her  hands,  and  Button  tottering  forward,  equally 
in  surprise  and  alarm.  As  the  circumstances  would  not 
admit  of  evasion,  the  young  man  threw  aside  all  reserve, 
and  spoke  plainly. 

"  I  have  been  an  unwilling  listener  to  a  part  of  your  dis 
course  with  Mildred,  Mr.  Button,"  he  said,  "  and  can  an 
swer  your  last  question  for  myself.  I  have  offered  my  hand 
to  your  daughter,  sir  ;  an  offer  that  I  now  renew,  and  the 
acceptance  of  which  would  make  me  the  happiest  man  in 
England.  If  your  influence  could  aid  me — for  she  has  re 
fused  my  hand." 

"  Refused  !"  exclaimed  Button,  in  a  surprise  that  over 
came  the  calculated  amenity  of  manner  he  had  assumed  the 
instant  Wycherly  appeared  —  "  Refused  Sir  Wycherly 
Wychecombe !  but  it  was  before  your  rights  had  been  as 
well  established  as  they  are  now.  Mildred,  answer  to  this 
— how  could  you — nay,  how  dare  you  refuse  such  an  offer 
as  this  ?" 

Human  nature  could  not  well  endure  more.  Mildred  suf 
fered  her  hands  to  fall  helplessly  into  her  lap,  and  exposed 
a  face  that  was  lovely  as  that  of  an  angel's,  though  pale 
nearly  to  the  hue  of  death.  Feeling  extorted  the  answer 
she  made,  though  the  words  had  hardly  escaped  her,  ere 
she  repented  having  uttered  them,  and  had  again  buried  her 
face  m  her  hands — 

"  Father" — she  said — "  could  I — dare  I  to  encourage  Sir 
37* 


438  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

Wycherly  Wychecombe  to  unite  himself  to  a  family  like 
ours !" 

Conscience  smote  Button  with  a  force  that  nearly  sobered 
him,  and  what  explanation  might  have  followed  it  is  hard 
to  say ;  Wycherly,  in  an  under-tone,  however,  requested  to 
be  left  alone  with  the  daughter.  Dutton  had  sense  enough 
to  understand  he  was  de  trop,  and  shame  enough  to  wish  to 
escape.  In  half  a  minute,  he  had  hobbled  up  to  the  sum 
mit  of  the  cliff  and  disappeared. 

"  Mildred  ! — Dearest  Mildred"— said  Wycherly,  tender 
ly,  gently  endeavouring  to  draw  her  attention  to  himself, 
"  we  are  alone  now ;  surely — surely — you  will  not  refuse 
to  look  at  me  /" 

"Is  he  gone?"  asked  Mildred,  dropping  her  hands,  and 
looking  wildly  around.  "  Thank  God  !  It  is  over,  for  this 
time,  at  least !  Now,  let  us  go  to  the  house  ;  Admiral  Blue- 
water  may  miss  me." 

"  No,  Mildred,  not  yet.  You  surely  can  spare  me — me, 
who  have  suffered  so  much  of  late  on  your  account — nay, 
by  your  means — you  can,  in  mercy,  spare  me  a  few  short 
minutes.  Was  this  the  reason — the  only  reason,  dearest 
girl,  why  you  so  pertinaciously  refused  my  hand  ?" 

"  Was  it  not  sufficient,  Wycherly  ?"  answered  Mildred, 
afraid  the  chartered  air  might  hear  her  secret.  "  Remem 
ber  who  you  are,  and  what  I  am  !  Could  I  suffer  you  to 
become  the  husband  of  one  to  whom  such  cruel,  cruel 
propositions  had  been  made  by  her  own  father !" 

"  I  shall  not  affect  to  conceal  my  horror  of  such  princi 
ples,  Mildred,  but  your  virtues  shine  all  the  brighter  by  hav 
ing  flourished  in  their  company.  Answer  me  but  one  ques 
tion  frankly,  and  every  other  difficulty  can  be  gotten  over. 
Do  you  love  me  well  enough  to  be  my  wife,  were  you  an 
orphan  ?" 

Mildred's  countenance  was  full  of  anguish,  but  this  ques 
tion  changed  its  expression  entirely.  The  moment  was  ex 
traordinary  as  were  the  feelings  it  engendered,  and,  almost 
unconsciously  to  herself,  she  raised  the  hand  that  held  her 
own  to  her  lips,  in  a  sort  of  reverence.  In  the  next  instant 
she  was  encircled  in  the  young  man's  arms,  and  pressed 
with  fervour  to  his  heart. 

"  Let  us  go" — said  Mildred,  extricating  herself  from  an 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  439 

embrace  that  was  too  involuntarily  bestowed,  and  too  heart 
felt  to  alarm  her  delicacy.  "  I  feel  certain  Admiral  Blue- 
water  will  miss  me !" 

"  No,  Mildred,  we  cannot  part  thus.  Give  me,  at  least, 
the  poor  consolation  of  knowing,  that  if  this  difficulty  did 
not  exist — that  if  you  were  an  orphan  for  instance — you 
would  be  mine." 

"  Oh  !  Wycherly,  how  gladly — how  gladly  ! — But,  say 
no  more — nay " 

This  time  the  embrace  was  longer,  more  fervent  even  than 
before,  and  Wycherly  was  too  much  of  a  sailor  to  let  the 
sweet  girl  escape  from  his  arms  without  imprinting  on  her 
lips  a  kiss.  He  had  no  sooner  relinquished  his  hold  of  the 
slight  person  of  Mildred,  ere  it  vanished.  With  this  charac 
teristic  leave-taking,  we  change  the  scene  to  the  tent  of  Sir 
Gervaise  Oakes. 

"  You  have  seen  Admiral  Bluewater?"  demanded  the  com- 
mander-in-chief,  as  soon  as  the  form  of  Magrath  darkened 
the  entrance,  and  speaking  with  the  sudden  earnestness  of 
a  man  determined  to  know  the  worst.  "  If  so,  tell  me  at 
once  what  hopes  there  are  for  him?" 

"  Of  all  the  human  passions,  Sir  Jairvis,"  answered  Ma 
grath,  looking  aside,  to  avoid  the  keen  glance  of  the  other, 
"  hope  is  generally  considered,  by  all  rational  men,  as  the 
most  treacherous  and  delusive ;  I  may  add,  of  all  denomi 
nations  or  divisions  of  hope,  that  which  decides  on  life  is 
the  most  unsairtain.  We  all  hope  to  live,  I  'm  thinking,  to 
a  good  old  age,  and  yet  how  many  of  us  live  just  long 
enough  to  be  disappointed  !" 

Sir  Gervaise  did  not  move  urtil  the  surgeon  ceased  speak 
ing  ;  then  he  began  to  pace  the  tent  in  mournful  silence.  He 
understood  Magrath's  manner  so  well,  that  the  last  faint  hope 
he  had  felt  from  seeking  his  opinion  was  gone ;  he  now  knew 
that  his  friend  must  die.  It  required  all  his  fortitude  to 
stand  up  against  this  blow  ;  for,  single,  childless,  and  accus 
tomed  to  each  other  almost  from  infancy,  these  two  veteran 
sailors  had  got  to  regard  themselves  as  merely  isolated  parts 
of  the  same  being.  Magrath  was  affected  more  than  he 
chose  to  express,  and  he  blew  his  nose  several  times  in  a  way 
that  an  observer  would  have  found  suspicious. 

"  Will  you  confer  on  me  the  favour,  Dr.  Magrath,"  said 


440  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  gentle,  subdued  manner,  "  to  ask  Captain 
Greenly  to  come  hither,  as  you  pass  the  flag-staff." 

"  Most  willingly,  Sir  Jairvis ;  and  I  know  he  '11  be  any 
thing  but  backward  in  complying." 

It  was  not  long  ere  the  captain  of  the  Plantagenet  made 
his  appearance.  Like  all  around  him,  the  recent  victory 
appeared  to  bring  no  exultation. 

"  1  suppose  Magrath  told  you  all,"  said  the  vice-admiral, 
(squeezing  the  other's  hand. 

"  He  gives  no  hopes,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  sincerely  regret  to 
say." 

"  I  knew  as  much !  I  knew  as  much !  And  yet  he  is 
easy,  Greenly  ! — nay,  even  seems  happy.  I  did  feel  a  little 
hope  that  this  absence  from  suffering  might  be  a  favourable 
omen." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  much,  sir ;  for  I  have  been  think 
ing  that  it  is  my  duty  to  speak  to  the  rear-admiral  on  the 
subject  of  his  brother's  marriage.  From  his  own  silence  on 
the  subject,  it  is  possible — nay,  from  all  the  circumstances, 
it  is  probable  he  never  knew  of  it,  and  there  may  be  rea 
sons  why  he  ought  to  be  informed  of  the  affair.  As  you 
say  he  is  so  easy,  would  there  be  an  impropriety  in  men 
tioning  it  to  him?" 

Greenly  could  not  possibly  have  made  a  suggestion  that 
was  a  greater  favour  to  Sir  Gervaise.  The  necessity 
of  doing,  his  habits  of  decision,  and  having  an  object 
in  view,  contributed  to  relieve  his  mind  by  diverting  his 
thoughts  to  some  active  duty;  and  he  seized  his  hat,  beck 
oned  Greenly  to  follow,  and  moved  across  the  hill  with  a 
rapid  pace,  taking  the  path  to  the  cottage.  It  was  neces 
sary  to  pass  the  flag-staff.  As  this  was  done,  every  counte 
nance  met  the  vice-admiral's  glance,  with  a  look  of  sincere 
sympathy.  The  bows  that  were  exchanged,  had  more  in 
them  than  the  naked  courtesies  of  such  salutations ;  they 
were  eloquent  of  feeling  on  both  sides. 

Bluewater  was  awake,  and  retaining  the  hand  of  Mildred 
affectionately  in  his  own,  when  his  friend  entered.  Relin 
quishing  his  hold,  however,  he  grasped  the  hand  of  the  vice- 
admiral,  and  looked  earnestly  at  him,  as  if  he  pitied  the  sor 
row  that  he  knew  the  survivor  must  feel. 

"My  dear  Bluewater,"  commenced  Sir  Gervaise,  who 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  441 

acted  under  a  nervous  excitement,  as  well  as  from  constitu 
tional  decision,"  here  is  Greenly  with  something  to  tell  you 
that  we  both  think  you  ought  to  know,  at  a  moment  like 
this." 

The  rear-admiral  regarded  his  friend  intently,  as  if  invit 
ing  him  to  proceed. 

"  Why,  it 's  about  your  brother  Jack.  I  fancy  you  can 
not  have  known  that  he  was  ever  married,  or  I  think  I 
should  have  heard  you  speak  of  it." 

"  Married  !"  repeated  Bluewater,  with  great  interest,  and 
speaking  with  very  little  difficulty.  "  I  think  that  must  be 
an  error.  Inconsiderate  and  warm-hearted  he  was,  but 
there  was  only  one  woman  he  could,  nay,  would  have  mar 
ried.  She  is  long  since  dead,  but  not  as  his  wife ;  for  that 
her  uncle,  a  man  of  great  wealth,  but  of  unbending  will, 
would  never  have  suffered.  He  survived  her,  though  my 
poor  brother  did  not." 

This  was  said  in  a  mild  voice,  for  the  wounded  man  spoke 
equally  without  effort,  and  without  pain. 

"  You  hear,  Greenly  ?"  observed  Sir  Gervaise.  "  And 
yet  it  is  not  probable  that  you  should  be  mistaken." 

"Certainly,  I  am  no1,  gentlemen.  I  saw  Colonel  Blue- 
water  married,  as  did  another  officer  who  is  at  this  moment 
in  this  very  fleet.  Captain  Blakely  is  the  person  I  mean, 
and  I  know  that  the  priest  who  performed  the  ceremony  is 
still  living,  a  beneficed  clergyman." 

"  This  is  wonderful  to  me !  He  fervently  loved  Agnes 
Hedworth,  but  his  poverty  was  an  obstacle  to  the  union  ;  and 
both  died  so  young,  that  there  was  little  opportunity  of  con 
ciliating  the  uncle." 

"  That,  sir,  is  your  mistake.  Agnes  Hedworth  was  the 
bride." 

A  noise  in  the  room  interrupted  the  dialogue,  and  the 
three  gentlemen  saw  Wycherly  and  Mildred  stooping  to  pick 
up  the  fragments  of  a  bowl  that  Mrs.  Button  had  let  fall. 
The  latter,  apparently  in  alarm,  at  the  little  accident,  had 
sunk  back  into  a  seat,  pale  and  trembling. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Button,  take  a  glass  of  water,"  said  Sit 
Gerva'se,  kindly  approaching  her ,  "  your  nerves  have  been 
sorely  tried  of  late ;  else  would  not  such  a  trifle  affect  you." 

"  It  is  not  that!"  exclaimed  the  matron,  huskily.     "  It  is 


442  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

not  that!  Oh  !  the  fearful  moment  has  come  at  last ;  and, 
from  my  inmost  spirit  I  thank  thee,  my  Lord  and  my  God, 
that  it  has  come  free  from  shame  and  disgrace  !" 

The  closing  words  were  uttered  on  bended  knees,  and 
with  uplifted  hands. 

"  Mother! — dearest,  dearest  mother,"  cried  Mildred,  fall- 
ing  on  her  mother's  neck.  "  What  mean  you  ?  What  new 
misery  has  happened  to-day  ?" 

"Mother!  Yes,  sweet  one,  thou  art,  thou  ever  shalt  be 
my  child  !  This  is  the  pang  I  have  most  dreaded  ;  but  what 
is  an  unknown  tie  of  blood,  to  use,  and  affection,  and  to  a 
mother's  care  ?  If  I  did  not  bear  thee,  Mildred,  no  natural 
mother  could  have  loved  thee  more,  or  would  have  died  for 
thee,  as  willingly  !" 

"  Distress  has  disturbed  her,  gentlemen,"  said  Mildred, 
gently  extricating  herself  from  her  mother's  arms,  and  help 
ing  her  to  rise.  "A  few  moments  of  rest  will  restore  her." 

"  No,  darling  ;  it  must  come  now — it  ought  to  come  now 
— after  what  I  have  just  heard,  it  would  be  unpardonable  not 
to  tell  it,  now.  Did  I  understand  you  to  say,  sir,  that  you 
were  present  at  the  marriage  of  Agnes  Hed worth,  and  that, 
too,  with  the  brother  of  Admiral  Bluewater?" 

"  Of  that  fact,  there  can  be  no  question,  madam.  I  and 
others  will  testify  to  it.  The  marriage  took  place  in  Lon 
don,  in  the  summer  of  1725,  while  Blakely  and  myself  were 
up  from  Portsmouth,  on  leave.  Colonel  Bluewater  asked  us 
both  to  be  present,  under  a  pledge  of  secresy." 

**  And  in  the  summer  of  1726,  Agnes  Hed  worth  died  in 
my  house  and  my  arms,  an  hour  after  giving  birth  to  this 
dear,  this  precious  child — Mildred  Dutton,  as  she  has  ever 
since  been  called — Mildred  Bluewater,  as  it  would  seem  her 
name  should  be." 

It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  on  the  surprise  with  which  all 
present,  or  the  delight  with  which  Bluewater  and  Wycherly 
heard  this  extraordinary  announcement.  A  cry  escaped 
Mildred,  who  threw  herself  on  Mrs.  Dutton's  neck,  entwining 
it  with  her  arms,  convulsively,  as  if  refusing  to  permit  the 
tie  that  had  so  long  bound  them  together,  to  be  thus  rudely 
torn  asunder.  But  half  an  hour  of  weeping,  and  of  the  ten- 
derest  consolations,  calmed  the  poor  girl  a  little,  and  she  was 
able  to  listen  to  the  explanations.  These  were  exceedingly 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  443 

simple,  and  so  clear,  as,  in  connection  with  the  oth,  *  evi 
dence,  to  put  the  facts  out  of  all  doubt. 

Miss  Hedworth  had  become  known  to  Mrs.  Button,  while 
the  latter  was  an  inmate  of  the  house  of  her  patron.  A  year 
or  two  after  the  marriage  of  the  lieutenant,  and  while  he  was 
on  a  distant  station,  Agnes  Hedworth  threw  herself  on  the 
protection  of  his  wife,  asking  a  refuge  for  a  woman  in  the 
most  critical  circumstances.  Like  all  who  knew  Agnes 
Hedworth,  Mrs.  Button  both  respected  and  loved  her;  but 
the  distance  created  between  them,  by  birth  and  station,  was 
such  as  to  prevent  any  confidence.  The  former,  for  the 
few  days  passed  with  her  humble  friend,  had  acted  with  the 
quiet  dignity  of  a  woman  conscious  of  no  wrong ;  and  no 
questions  could  be  asked  that  implied  doubts.  A  succession  of 
fainting  fits  prevented  all  communications  in  the  hour  of  death 
and  Mrs.  Button  found  herself  left  with  a  child  on  her  hands, 
and  the  dead  body  of  her  friend.  Miss  Hedworth  had 
come  to  her  dwelling  unattended  and  under  a  false  name. 
These  circumstances  induced  Mrs.  Button  to  apprehend  the 
worst,  and  she  proceeded  to  make  her  arrangements  with 
great  tenderness  for  the  reputation  of  the  deceased.  The 
body  was  removed  to  London,  and  letters  were  sent  to  the 
uncle  to  inform  him  where  it  was  to  be  found,  with  a  refe 
rence  should  he  choose  to  inquire  into  the  circumstances  of 
his  niece's  death.  Mrs.  Button  ascertained  that  the  body 
was  interred  in  the  usual  manner,  but  no  inquiry  was  ever 
made,  concerning  the  particulars.  The  young  duchess,  Miss 
Hedworth's  sister,  was  then  travelling  in  Italy,  whence  she 
did  riot  return  for  more  than  a  year  ;  and  we  may  add, 
though  Mrs.  Button  was  unable  to  make  the  explanation, 
that  her  inquiries  after  the  fate  of  a  beloved  sister,  were  met 
by  a  simple  statement  that  she  had  died  suddenly,  on  a  visit 
to  a  watering-place,  whither  she  had  gone  with  a  female 
friend  for  her  health.  Whether  Mr.  Hedworth  himself  had 
any  suspicions  of  his  niece's  condition,  is  uncertain ;  but  the 
probabilities  were  against  it,  for  she  had  offended  him  by 
refusing  a  match  equal  in  all  respects  to  that  made  by  her 
elder  sister,  with  the  single  exception  that  the  latter  had 
married  a  man  she  loved,  whereas  he  exacted  of  Agnes  a 
very  different  sacrifice.  Owing  to  the  alienation  produced 
by  this  affair,  there  was  little  communication  between  the 


444  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

uncle  and  niece  ;  the  latter  passing  her  time  in  retirement, 
and  professedly  with  friends  that  the  former  neither  knew 
nor  cared  to  know.  In  short,  such  was  the  mode  of  life  of 
the  respective  parties,  that  nothing  was  easier  than  for  the 
unhappy  young  widow  to  conceal  her  state  from  her  uncle. 
The  motive  was  the  fortune  of  the  expected  child  ;  this  uncle 
having  it  in  his  power  to  alienate  from  it,  by  will,  if  he  saw 
fit,  certain  family  property,  that  might  otherwise  descend  to 
the  issue  of  the  two  sisters,  as  his  co-heiresses.  What  might 
have  happened  in  the  end,  or  what  poor  Agnes  meditated 
doing,  can  never  be  known ;  death  closing  the  secret  with 
his  irremovable  seal. 

Mrs.  Button  was  the  mother  of  a  girl  but  three  months* 
old,  at  the  time  this  little  stranger  was  left  on  her  hands.  A 
few  weeks  later  her  own  child  died  ;  and  having  waited  sev 
eral  months  in  vain  for  tidings  from  the  Hedworth  family, 
she  had  the  surviving  infant  christened  by  the  same  name 
as  that  borne  by  her  own  daughter,  and  soon  came  to  love 
it,  as  much,  perhaps,  as  if  she  had  borne  it.  Three  years 
passed  in  this  manner,  when  the  time  drew  near  for  the  re 
turn  of  her  husband  from  the  East  Indies.  To  be  ready  to 
meet  him,  she  changed  her  abode  to  a  naval  port,  and,  in 
so  doing,  changed  her  domestics.  This  left  her  accidentally, 
but  fortunately,  as  she  afterwards  thought,  completely  mis 
tress  of  the  secret  of  Mildred's  birth  ;  the  one  or  two  others 
to  whom  it  was  known  being  in  stations  to  render  it  impro 
bable  they  should  ever  communicate  anything  on  the  sub 
ject,  unless  it  were  asked  of  them.  Her  original  intention, 
however,  was  to  communicate  the  facts,  without  reserve,  tc 
her  husband.  But  he  came  back  an  altered  man  ;  bruta 
in  manners,  cold  in  his  affections,  and  the  victim  of  drunk 
enness.  By  this  time,  the  wife  was  too  much  attached  t« 
the  child  to  think  of  exposing  it  to  the  wayward  caprices  ot 
such  a  being ;  and  Mildred  was  educated,  and  grew  in 
stature  and  beauty  as  the  real  offspring  of  her  reputed  pa 
rents. 

All  this  Mrs.  Button  related  clearly  and  briefly,  refrain 
ing,  of  course,  from  making  any  allusion  to  the  conduct  of 
her  husband,  and  referring  all  her  own  benevolence  to  her 
attachment  to  the  child.  Bluewater  had  strength  enough  to 
receive  Mildred  in  hir  arms,  and  he  kissed  her  pale  cheek, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  445 

again  and  again,  blessing  her  in  the  most  fervent  and  so 
lemn  manner. 

"  My  feelings  were  not  treacherous  or  unfaithful,"  he 
said  ;  "  I  loved  thee,  sweetest,  frcm  the  first.  Sir  Gervaiso 
Oakes  has  my  will,  made  in  thy  favour,  before  we  sailed  on 
this  last  cruise,  and  every  shilling  I  leave  will  be  thine.  Mr. 
Atwood,  procure  that  will,  and  add  a  codicil  explaining  this 
recent  discovery,  and  confirming  the  legacy  ;  let  not  the  last 
be  touched,  for  it  is  spontaneous  and  comes  from  the  heart." 

"  And,  now,"  answered  Mrs.  Button,  "  enough  has  pass 
ed  for  once.  The  sick-bed  should  be  more  quiet.  Give  me 
my  child,  again : — I  cannot  yet  consent  to  part  with  her 
for  ever." 

"  Mother !  mother !"  exclaimed  Mildred,  throwing  her 
self  on  Mrs.  Button's  bosom  —  "I  am  yours,  and  yours 
only." 

"  Not  so,  I  fear,  Mildred,  if  all  I  suspect  be  true,  and  this 
is  as  proper  a  moment  as  another  to  place  that  matter  also 
before  your  honoured  uncle.  Come  forward,  Sir  Wycher- 
ly — I  have  understood  you  to  say,  this  minute,  in  my  ear, 
that  you  hold  the  pledge  of  this  wilful  girl  to  become  your 
wife,  should  she  ever  be  an  orphan.  An  orphan  she  is,  and 
has  been  since  the  first  hour  of  her  birth." 

"  No — no — no" — murmured  Mildred,  burying  her  face 
still  deeper  in  her  mother's  bosom,  "  not  while  you  live,  can 
I  be  an  orphan.  Not  now — another  time — this  is  unsea 
sonable — cruel — nay,  it  is  not  what  I  said." 

"  Take  her  away,  dearest  Mrs.  Button,"  said  Bluewater, 
tears  of  joy  forcing  themselves  from  his  eyes.  "  Take  her 
away,  lest  too  much  happiness  come  upon  me  at  once.  My 
thoughts  should  be  calmer  at  such  a  moment." 

Wycherly  removed  Mildred  from  her  mother's  arms,  and 
gently  led  her  from  the  room.  When  in  Mrs.  Button's  apart 
ment,  he  whispered  something  in  the  ear  of  the  agitated  girl 
that  caused  her  to  turn  on  him  a  look  of  happiness,  though 
it  came  dimmed  with  tears ;  then  he  had  his  turn  of  holding 
her,  for  another  precious  instant,  to  his  heart. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Button — nay,  my  dear  mother"  he  said, 

"  Mildred  and  myself  have  both  need  of  parents.     I  am  an 

orphan  like  herself,  and  we  can  never  consent  to  part  with 

you.     Look  forward,  I  entreat  you,  to  making  one  of  our 

38 


446  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

family  in  all  things,  for  neter  can  either  Mildred  or  myself 
cease  to  consider  you  as  anything  but  a  parent  entitled  to 
more  than  common  reverence  and  affection." 

Wycherly  had  hardly  uttered  this  proper  speech,  when  he 
received  what  he  fancied  a  ten-fold  reward.  Mildred,  in  a 
hurst  of  natural  feeling,  without  affectation  or  reserve,  but 
yielding  to  her  heart  only,  threw  her  arms  around  his  neck, 
murmured  the  word  "  thanks"  several  times,  and  wept  freely 
on  his  bosom.  When  Mrs.  Button  received  the  sobbing  girl 
from  him,  Wycherly  kissed  the  mother's  cheek,  and  he  left 
the  room. 

Admiral  Bluewater  would  not  consent  to  seek  his  repose 
until  he  had  a  private  conference  with  his  friend  and  Wy 
cherly.  The  latter  was  frankness  and  liberality  itself,  but 
the  former  would  not  wait  for  settlements.  These  he  trust 
ed  to  the  young  man's  honour.  His  own  time  was  short, 
and  he  should  die  perfectly  happy  could  he  leave  his  niece 
in  the  care  of  one  like  our  Virginian.  He  wished  the  mar 
riage  to  take  place  in  his  presence.  On  this  he  even  insist 
ed,  and,  of  course,  Wycherly  made  no  objections,  but  went 
to  state  the  case  to  Mrs.  Button  and  Mildred. 

"  It  is  singular,  Bick,"  said  Sir  Gervaise,  wiping  his  eyes, 
as  he  looked  from  a  window  that  commanded  a  view  of  the 
sea,  "  that  I  have  left  both  our  flags  flying  in  the  CaBsar ! 
I  declare,  the  oddness  of  the  circumstance  never  struck  me 
till  this  minute." 

"  Let  them  float  a  little  longer  together,  Gervaise.  They 
have  faced  many  a  gale  and  many  a  battle  together,  and  may 
endure  each  other's  company  a  few  hours  longer." 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  447 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

"Compound  of  weakness  and  of  strength 
Mighty,  yet  ignorant  of  thy  power  ! 
Loftier  than  earth,  or  air,  or  sea, 
Yet  meaner  than  the  lowliest  flower !" 

MARGARET  DAVIDSON. 

NOT  a  syllable  of  explanation,  reproach  or  self-accusa 
tion  had  passed  between  the  commander-in-chief  and  the 
rear-admiral,  since  the  latter  received  his  wound.  Each 
party  appeared  to  blot  out  the  events  of  the  last  few  days, 
leaving  the  long  vista  of  their  past  services  and  friendship, 
undisfigured  by  a  single  unsightly  or  unpleasant  object.  Sir 
Gervaise,  while  he  retained  an  active  superintendence  of  his 
fleet,  and  issued  the  necessary  orders  right  and  left,  hover 
ed  around  the  bed  of  Bluewater  with  the  assiduity  and  al 
most  with  the  tenderness  of  a  woman  ;  still  not  the  slightest 
allusion  was  made  to  the  recent  battles,  or  to  anything  that 
had  occurred  in  the  short  cruise.  The  speech  recorded  at 
the  close  of  the  last  chapter,  was  the  first  words  he  had  utter 
ed  which  might,  in  any  manner,  carry  the  mind  of  either 
back  to  events  that  both  might,  wish  forgotten.  The  rear- 
admiral  felt  this  forbearance  deeply,  and  now  that  the  sub 
ject  was  thus  accidentally  broached  between  them,  he  had 
a  desire  to  say  something  in  continuation.  Still  he  waited 
until  the  baronet  had  left  the  window  and  taken  a  seat  by 
his  bed. 

"  Gervaise,"  Bluewater  then  commenced,  speaking  low 
from  weakness,  but  speaking  distinctly  from  feeling,  "  I  can 
not  die  without  asking  your  forgiveness.  There  were 
several  hours  when  I  actually  meditated  treason — I  will  not 
say  to  my  king  ;  on  that  point  my  opinions  are  unchanged 
— but  to  you." 

u  Why  speak  of  this,  Dick  ?  You  did  not  know  yourself 
when  you  believed  it  possible  to  desert  me  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy.  How  much  better  I  judged  of  your  character,  is 
Been  in  the  fact  that  I  did  not  hesitate  to  engage  double  my 


448  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

force,  well  knowing  that  you  could  not  fail  to  come  to  my 
rescue." 

Bluewater  looked  intently  at  his  friend,  and  a  smile  of 
serious  satisfaction  passed  over  his  pallid  countenance  as  he 
listened  to  Sir  Gervaise's  words,  which  were  uttered  with 
his  usual  warmth  and  sincerity  of  manner. 

"  I  believe  you  know  me  better  than  I  know  myself, 
truly,"  he  answered,  after  a  thoughtful  pause  ;  "  yes,  better 
than  I  know  myself.  What  a  glorious  close  to  our  profes 
sional  career  would  it  have  been,  Oakes,  had  I  followed  you 
into  battle,  as  was  our  old  practice,  and  fallen  in  your  wake, 
imitating  your  own  high  example  !" 

"  It  is  better  as  it  is,  Dick — if  anything  that  has  so  sad  a 
germination  can  be  well — yes,  it  is  better  as  it  is  ;  you  have 
fallen  at  my  side,  as  it  were.  We  will  think  or  talk  110 
more  of  this." 

"  We  have  been  friends,  and  close  friends  too,  for  a  long 
period,  Gervaise,"  returned  Bluewater,  stretching  his  arm 
from  the  bed,  with  the  long,  thin  fingers  of  the  hand  extend 
ed  to  meet  the  other's  grasp  ;  "  and,  yet,  i  cannot  recall  an 
act  of  your's  which  I  can  justly  lay  to  heart,  as  unkind,  or 
untrue." 

"  God  forgive  me,  if  you  can — I  hope  not,  Dick  ;  mosi 
sincerely  do  I  hope  not.  It  would  give  me  great  pain  to  be 
lieve  it." 

"  You  have  no  cause  for  self-reproach.  In  no  one  act  or 
thought  can  you  justly  accuse  yourself  with  injuring  me. 
I  should  die  much  happier  could  I  say  the  same  of  myself, 
Oakes  !" 

"  Thought ! — Dick  ? — Thought !  You  never  meditated 
aught  against  me  in  your  whole  life.  The  love  you  bear 
me,  is  the  true  reason  why  you  lie  there,  at  this  blessed 
moment." 

"  It  is  grateful  to  find  that  I  have  been  understood.  I  am 
deeply  indebted  to  you,  Oakes,  for  declining  to  signal  me 
and  my  division  down,  wfeen  I  foolishly  requested  that  un 
timely  forbearance.  I  was  then  suffering  an  anguish  of 
mind,  to  which  any  pain  of  the  body  I  may  now  endure,  is 
an  elysium  ;  your  self-denial  gave  time — " 

"  For  the  heart  to  prompt  you  to  that  which  your  feel- 
ings  yearned  to  do  from  the  first,  Bluewater,"  interrupted 


iilE     TWO    ADMIRALS.  449 

Sir  Gervaise.  *  And,  now,  as  your  commanding  officer,  I 
enjoin  silence  on  this  subject,ybr  ever." 

"  I  will  endeavour  to  obey.  It  will  not  be  long,  Oakes, 
that  I  shall  remain  under  your  orders,"  added  the  rear-ad 
miral,  with  a  painful  smile.  "  There  should  be  no  charge 
of  mutiny  against  me,  in  the  last  act  of  my  life.  You 
ought  to  forgive  the  one  sin  of  omission,  when  you  remem 
ber  how  much  and  how  completely  my  will  has  been  sub 
ject  to  yours,  during  the  last  five-and-thirty  years, — how 
little  my  mind  has  matured  a  professional  thought  that  yours 
has  not  originated !" 

"  Speak  no  more  of '  forgive,'  I  charge  you,  Dick.  That 
you  have  shown  a  girl-like  docility  in  obeying  all  my  orders, 
too,  is  a  truth  I  will  aver  before  God  and  man  ;  but  when  it 
comes  to  mind,  I  am  far  from  asserting  that  mine  has  had 
the  mastery.  I  do  believe,  could  the  truth  be  ascertained, 
it  would  be  found  that  I  am,  at  this  blessed  moment,  enjoy 
ing  a  professional  reputation,  which  is  more  than  half  due 
to  you." 

"It  matters  little,  now,  Gervaise — it  matters  little,  now. 
We  were  two  light-hearted  and  gay  lads,  Oakes,  when  we 
first  met  as  boys,  fresh  from  school,  and  merry  as  health 
and  spirits  could  make  us." 

"  We  were,  indeed,  Dick  ! — yes,  we  were ;  thoughtless  as 
if  this  sad  moment  were  never  to  arrive  !" 

"  There  were  George  Anson,  and  Peter  Warren,  little 
Charley  Saunders,  Jack  Byng,  and  a  set  of  us,  that  did, 
indeed,  live  as  if  we  were  never  to  die !  And  yet  we  car 
ried  our  lives,  as  it  might  be,  in  our  hands,  Oakes !" 

"  There  is  much  of  that,  Dick,  in  boyhood  and  youth. 
But,  he  is  happiest,  after  all,  who  can  meet  this  moment  as 
you  do  —  calmly,  and  yet  without  any  dependence  on  his 
own  merits." 

"  I  had  an  excellent  mother,  Oakes  !  Little  do  we  think, 
in  youth,  how  much  we  owe  to  the  unextinguishable  tender 
ness,  and  far-seeing  lessons  of  our  mothers  !  Ours  both 
died  while  we  were  young,  and  yet  I  do  think  we  were 
their  debtors  for  far  more  than  we  could  ever  repay." 

Sir  Gervaise  simply  assented,  but  making  no  immediate 
answer,  otherwise,  a  long  pause  succeeded,  during  which 
38* 


450  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

the  vice-admiral  fancied  that  his  friend  was  beginning  to 
doze.  He  was  mistaken. 

"  You  will  be  made  Viscount  Bowldero,  for  these  last 
affairs,  Gervaise,"  the  wounded  man  unexpectedly  observed, 
showing  how  much  his  thoughts  were  still  engrossed  with 
the  interests  of  his  friend.  "  Nor  do  I  see  why  you  should 
again  refuse  a  peerage.  Those  who  remain  in  this  world, 
may  well  yield  to  its  usages  and  opinions,  while  they  do  not 
interfere  with  higher  obligations." 

"  I !" — exclaimed  Sir  Gervaise,  gloomily.  "  The  thought 
of  so  commemorating  what  has  happened,  would  be  worse 
than  defeat  to  me!  No  —  I  ask  no  change  of  name  to  re 
mind  me  constantly  of  my  loss !" 

Blue  water  looked  grateful,  rather  than  pleased;  but  he 
made  no  answer.  Now,  he  fell  into  a  light  slumber,  from 
which  he  did  not  awake  until  the  time  he  had  himself  set  for 
the  marriage  of  Wycherly  arid  Mildred.  With  one  uncle 
dead  and  still  unburied,  and  another  about  to  quit  the  world 
for  ever,  a  rite  that  is  usually  deemed  as  joyous  as  it  is 
solemn,  might  seem  unseasonable ;  but  the  dying  man  had 
made  it  a  request  that  he  might  have  the  consolation  of 
knowing  ere  he  expired,  that  he  left  his  niece  under  the  legal 
protection  of  one  as  competent,  as  he  was  desirous  of  pro- 
tecting  her.  The  reader  must  imagine  the  arguments  that 
were  used  for  the  occasion,  but  they  were  such  as  disposed 
all,  in  the  end,  to  admit  the  propriety  of  yielding  their  ordi 
nary  prejudices  to  the  exigencies  of  the  moment.  It  may 
be  well  to  add,  also,  to  prevent  useless  and  unprofitable 
cavilling,  that  the  laws  of  England  were  not  as  rigid  on  the 
subject  of  the  celebration  of  marriages  in  1745,  as  they  sub 
sequently  became ;  and  that  it  was  lawful  then  to  perform 
the  ceremony  in  a  private  house  without  a  license,  and  with 
out  the  publishing  of  banns,  even  ;  restrictions  that  were 
imposed  a  few  years  later.  The  penalty  for  dispensing  with 
the  publication  of  banns,  was  a  fine  of  £100,  imposed  on 
the  clergyman  ;  and  i.':is  fine  Bluewater  chose  to  pay,  rather 
than  leave  the  only  great  object  of  life  that  now  remained 
before  him  unaccomplished.  This  penalty  in  no  degree 
impaired  the  validity  of  the  contract,  though  Mrs.  Dutton, 
as  a  woman,  felt  averse  to  parting  with  her  beloved,  without 
Q  rigid  observance  of  all  the  customary  forms.  The  point 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  451 

had  finally  been  disposed  of,  by  recourse  to  arguments  ad 
dressed  to  the  reason  of  this  respectable  woman,  and  by 
urging  the  necessity  of  the  case.  Her  consent,  however, 
was  not  given  without  a  proviso,  that  a  license  should  be 
subsequently  procured,  and  a  second  marriage  be  had  at  a 
more  fitting  moment,  should  the  ecclesiastical  authorities 
consent  to  the  same ;  a  most  improbable  thing  in  itself. 

Mr.  Rothcrham  availed  himself  of  the  statute  inflicting 
the  penalty,  as  an  excuse  for  not  officiating.  His  real  mo 
tive,  however,  was  understood,  and  the  chaplain  of  the  Plan- 
tagenet,  a  divine  of  character  and  piety,  was  substituted  in 
his  place.  Bluewater  had  requested  that  as  many  of  the 
captains  of  the  fleet  should  be  present  as  could  be  collected, 
and  it  was  the  assembling  of  these  warriors  of  the  deep, 
together  with  the  arrival  of  the  clergyman,  that  first  gave 
notice  of  the  approach  of  the  appointed  hour. 

It  is  not  our  intention  to  dwell  on  the  details  of  a  cere 
mony  that  had  so  much  that  was  painful  in  its  solemnities. 
Neither  Wycherly  nor  Mildred  made  any  change  in  their 
attire,  and  the  lovely  bride  wept  from  the  time  the  service 
began,  to  the  moment  when  she  left  the  arms  of  her  uncle, 
to  be  received  in  those  of  her  husband,  and  was  supported 
from  the  room.  All  seemed  sad,  indeed,  but  Bluewater ;  to 
him  the  scene  was  exciting,  but  it  brought  great  relief  to  his 
mind. 

"  I  am  now  ready  to  die,  gentlemen,"  he  said,  as  the  door 
closed  on  the  new-married  couple.  "  My  last  worldly  care  is 
disposed  of,  and  it  were  better  for  me  to  turn  all  my  thoughts 
to  another  state  of  being.  My  niece,  Lady  Wychecombe, 
will  inherit  the  little  I  have  to  leave ;  nor  do  I  know  that  it 
is  of  much  importance  to  substantiate  her  birth,  as  her  uncle 
clearly  bestowed  what  would  have  been  her  mother's  pro 
perty,  on  her  aunt,  the  duchess.  If  my  dying  declaration 
can  be  of  any  use,  however,  you  hear  it,  and  can  testify  to 
it.  Now,  come  arri  take  leave  of  me,  one  by  one,  that  I 
may  bless  you  all,  and  thank  you  for  much  undeserved,  and, 
I  fear,  unrequited  love." 

The  scene  that  followed  was  solemn  and  saa.  One  by 
one,  the  captains  drew  near  the  bed,  and  to  each  the  dying 
man  had  something  kind  and  affectionate  to  say.  Even  the 
most  cold-hearted  looked  grave?  and  O'Neil,  a  man  remark- 


452  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

able  for  a  gaite  de  COKUT  that  rendered  the  excitement  of 
battle  some  of  the  pleasantest  moments  of  his  life,  literally 
shed  tears  on  the  hand  he  kissed. 

"  Ah  !  my  old  friend,"  said  the  rear-admiral,  as  Parker, 
of  the  Carnalic,  drew  near  in  his  customary  meek  and  sub 
dued  manner,  "  you  perceive  it  is  not  years  alone  that  bring 
us  to  our  graves  !  They  tell  me  you  have  behaved  as  usual 
in  these  late  affairs  ;  I  trust  that,  after  a  long  life  of  patient 
and  arduous  services,  you  are  about  to  receive  a  proper 
reward." 

"  I  will  acknowledge,  Admiral  Bluewater,"  returned  Par 
ker,  earnestly,  "  that  it  would  be  peculiarly  grateful  tc 
receive  some  mark  of  the  approbation  of  my  sovereign ; 
principally  on  account  of  my  dear  wife  and  children.  We 
are  not,  like  yourself,  descended  from  a  noble  family ;  but 
must  carve  our  rights  to  distinction,  and  they  who  have 
never  known  honours  of  this  nature,  prize  them  highly." 

"  Ay,  my  good  Parker,"  interrupted  the  rear-admiral, 
"  and  they  who  have  ever  known  them,  get  to  know  their 
emptiness  ;  most  especially  as  they  approach  that  verge  of 
existence,  whence  the  eye  looks  in  a  near  and  fearful  glance, 
over  the  vast  and  unknown  range  of  eternity." 

"  No  doubt,  sir ;  nor  am  I  so  vain  as  to  suppose  that  hairs 
which  have  got  to  be  grey  as  mine,  can  last  for  ever.  But, 
what  I  was  about  to  say  is,  that  precious  as  honours  are  to 
the  humble,  I  would  cheerfully  yield  every  hope  of  the  sorf 
I  have,  to  see  you  on  the  poop  of  the  Ccesar  again,  with  Mr, 
Cornet  at  your  elbow,  leading  the  fleet,  or  following  the 
motions  of  the  vice-admiral." 

"  Thank  you,  my  good  Parker;  that  can  never  be;  nor  can 
I  say,  now,  that  I  wish  it  might.  When  we  have  cast  off 
from  the  world,  there  is  less  pleasure  in  looking  back,  than 
in  looking  ahead.  God  bless  you,  Parker,  and  keep  you, 
as  you  ever  have  been,  an  honest  man." 

Stowel  was  the  last  to  approach  the  bed,  nor  did  he  do  it 
until  all  had  left  the  room-  but  Sir  Gervaise  and  himself. 
The  indomitable  good-nature,  and  the  professional  noncha 
lance  of  Bluewater,  by  leaving  every  subordinate  undis 
turbed  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  own  personal  caprices,  had 
rendered  the  rear-admiral  a  greater  favourite,  in  one  sense 
at  least,  than  the  commander-in-chief.  Stowel,  by  his  near 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  453 

connexion  with  Bluewater,  had  profited  more  by  these  pe 
culiarities  than  any  other  officer  under  him,  and  the  effect 
on  his  feelings  had  been  in  a  very  just  proportion  to  the 
benefits.  He  could  not  refrain,  it  is  true,  from  remembering 
the  day  when  he  himself  had  been  a  lieutenant  in  the  ship 
in  which  the  rear-admiral  had  been  a  midshipman,  but  he  no 
longer  recollected  the  circumstance  with  the  bitterness  that 
it  sometimes  drew  after  it.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  now 
brought  to  his  mind  merely  as  the  most  distant  of  the  many 
land-marks  in  their  long  and  joint  services. 

"  Well,  Stowel,"  observed  Bluewater,  smiling  sadly,  "even 
the  old  Ca3sar  must  be  left  behind,  in  taking  leave  of  life. 
It  is  seldom  a  flag-captain  has  not  some  heart-burnings  on 
account  of  his  superior,  and  most  sincerely  do  I  beg  you  to 
forget  and  forgive  any  I  may  have  occasioned  yourself." 

"  Heaven  help  me,  sir ! — I  was  far,  just  then,  from  thinking 
of  any  such  thing  !  I  was  fancying  how  little  I  should  have 
thought  it  probable,  when  we  were  together  in  the  Calypso, 
that  I  should  ever  be  thus  standing  at  your  bedside.  Really, 
Admiral  Bluewater,  I  would  rejoice  to  share  with  you  the 
remnant  of  life  that  is  left  me." 

"  I  do  believe  you  would,  Stowel ;  but  that  can  never  be. 
I  have  just  performed  my  last  act  in  this  world,  in  giving 
my  niece  to  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe." 

"  Yes,  sir ; — yes,  sir — marriage  is  no  doubt  honourable, 
as  I  often  tell  Mrs.  Stowel,  and  therefore  not  to  be  despised; 
and  yet  it  is  singular,  that  a  gentleman  who  has  lived  a 
bachelor  himself,  should  fancy  to  see  a  marriage  ceremony 
performed,  and  that,  too,  at  the  cost  of  £100,  if  any  person 
choose  to  complain,  just  at  the  close  of  his  own  cruise ! 
However,  men  are  no  more  alike  in  such  matters,  than 
women  in  their  domestic  qualities;  and  I  sincerely  hope  this 
young  Sir  Wycherly  may  find  as  much  comfort,  in  the  old 
house  I  understand  he  has  a  little  inland  here,  as  you  and 
I  have  had,  together,  sir,  in  the  old  CaBgar.  Lsupposo 
there  '11  be  no  co-equals  in  Wychecombe  Hall." 

"  I  trust  not,  Stowel.  But  you  must  now  receive  my  last 
orders,  as  to  the  Csesar — " 

"  The  commander-in-chief  has  his  own  flag  flying  aboard 
of  us,  sir !"  interrupted  the  methodical  captain,  in  a  sort  of 
admonitory  way. 


454  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

"  Never  mind  that,  Stowel ; — I  '11  answer  for  his  acqui 
escence.  My  body  must  be  received  on  board,  and  carried 
round  in  the  ship  to  Plymouth.  Place  it  on  the  main-deck, 
where  the  people  can  see  the  coffin ;  I  would  pass  my  last 
hours  above  ground,  in  their  midst." 

"  It  shall  be  done,  sir — yes,  sir,  to  the  letter,  Sir  Gervaise 
not  countermanding.  And  I  '11  write  this  evening  to  Mrs. 
Stowel  to  say  she  needn't  come  down,  as  usual,  as  soon  as 
she  hears  the  ship  is  in,  but  that  she  must  wait  until  your 
flag  is  fairly  struck." 

"  I  should  be  sorry,  Stowel,  to  cause  a  moment's  delay  in 
the  meeting  of  husband  and  wife !" 

"  Don't  name  it,  Admiral  Bluewater; — Mrs.  Stowel  will 
understand  that  it 's  duty  ;  and  when  we  married,  I  fully  ex 
plained  to  her  that  duty,  with  a  sailor,  came  before  matri 
mony." 

A  little  pause  succeeded,  and  then  Bluewater  took  a  final 
and  affectionate  leave  of  his  captain.  Some  twenty  minutes 
elapsed  in  a  profound  silence,  during  which  Sir  Gervaise 
did  not  stir,  fancying  that  his  friend  again  dozed.  But  it 
was  ordered  that  Bluewater  was  never  to  sleep  again,  until 
he  took  the  final  rest  of  the  dead.  It  was  the  mind,  which 
had  always  blazed  above  the  duller  lethargy  of  his  body, 
that  buoyed  him  thus  up,  giving  an  unnatural  impulse  to 
his  physical  powers ;  an  impulse,  however,  that  was  but 
momentary,  and  which,  by  means  of  the  reaction,  contri 
buted,  in  the  end,  to  his  more  speedy  dissolution.  Perceiv 
ing,  at  length,  that  his  friend  did  not  sleep,  Sir  Gervaise 
drew  near  his  bed. 

''  Richard,"  he  said,  gently,  "  there  is  one  without,  who 
pines  to  be  admitted.  I  have  refused  even  his  tears,  under 
the  impression  that  you  felt  disposed  to  sleep." 

"  Never  less  so.  My  mind  appears  to  become  brighter 
and  clearer,  instead  of  fading ;  I  think  I  shall  never  sleep, 
in  the  sense  you  mean.  Whoever  the  person  is,  let  him  be 
admitted." 

Receiving  this  permission,  Sir  Gervaise  opened  the  door, 
and  Geoffrey  Cleveland  entered.  At  the  same  moment,  Gal- 
leygo,  who  came  and  went  at  pleasure,  thrust  in  his  own 
ungainly  form.  The  boy's  face  betrayed  the  nature  and  the 
extent  of  his  grief.  In  his  mind,  Admiral  Bluewater  wa* 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  455 

associated  with  all  the  events  of  his  own  professional  life ; 
and,  though  the  period  had  in  truth  been  so  short,  in  his 
brief  existence,  the  vista  through  which  he  looked  back, 
seemed  quite  as  long  as  that  which  marked  the  friendship 
of  the  two  admirals,  themselves.  Although  he  struggled 
manfully  for  self-control,  feeling  got  the  better  of  the  lad,  and 
he  threw  himself  on  his  knees,  at  the  side  of  the  bed,  sobbing 
as  if  his  heart  would  break.  Bluewater's  eye  glistened,  and 
he  laid  a  hand  affectionately  on  the  head  of  his  young  rela 
tive. 

"  Gervaise,  you  will  take  charge  of  this  boy,  when  I  'm 
gone,"  he  said ;  "  and  receive  him  in  your  own  ship.  1 
leave  him  to  you,  as  a  very  near  and  dear  professional 
legacy.  Cheer  up — cheer  up — my  brave  boy  ;  look  upon 
all  this  as  a  sailor's  fortune.  Our  lives  are  the — " 

The  word  "  king's,"  which  should  have  succeeded,  seemed 
to  choke  the  speaker.  Casting  a  glance  of  meaning  at  his 
friend,  with  a  painful  smile  on  his  face,  he  continued  silent. 

"  Ah  !  dear  sir,"  answered  the  midshipman,  ingenuously  ; 
"  I  knew  that  we  might  all  be  killed,  but  it  never  occurred 
to  me  that  an  admiral  could  lose  his  life  in  battle.  I  'm  sure 
—  I'm  sure  you  are  the  very  first  that  has  met  with  this 
accident !" 

"  Not  by  many,  my  poor  Geoffrey.  As  there  are  but 
few  admirals,  few  fall ;  but  we  are  as  much  exposed  as 
others." 

"  If  I  had  only  run  that  Monsieur  des  Prez  through  the 
body,  when  we  closed  with  him,'*  returned  the  boy,  grating 
his  teeth,  and  looking  all  the  vengeance  for  which,  at  the 
passing  instant,  he  felt  the  desire ;  "  it  would  have  been 
something/  I  might  have  done  it,  too,  for  he  was  quite 
unguarded !" 

"  It  would  have  been  a  very  bad  thing,  boy,  to  have 
injured  a  brave  man,  uselessly." 

"  Of  what  use  was  it  to  shoot  you,  sir  ?  We  took  their 
ship,  just  the  same  as  if  you  had  not  been  hurt." 

"  I  rather  think,  Geoffrey,  their  ship  was  virtually  taken 
before  I  was  wounded,"  returned  Bluewater,  smiling.  "  But 
I  was  shot  by  a  French  marine,  who  did  no  more  than  his 
duty." 

Lt  Yes,  sir,"  exclaimed   the  boy,  impatiently  •  "  and  he 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

escaped  without  a  scratch.  He,  at  least,  ought  to  have  been 
massacred" 

"  Thou  art  bloody-minded,  child ;  I  scarce  know  thee. 
Massacred  is  not  a  word  for  either  a  British  nobleman  or  a 
British  sailor.  I  saved  the  life  of  that  marine  ;  and,  when 
you  come  to  lie,  like  me,  on  your  death-bed,  Geoffrey,  you 
will  learn  how  sweet  a  consolation  can  be  derived  from  the 
consciousness  of  such  an  act ;  we  all  need  mercy,  and  none 
ought  to  expect  it,  for  themselves,  who  do  not  yield  it  to 
others." 

The  boy  was  rebuked,  and  his  feelings  took  a  better,  though 
scarcely  a  more  natural  direction.  Bluewater  now  spoke  to 
him  of  his  newly-discovered  cousin,  and  had  a  melancholy 
satisfaction  in  creating  an  interest  in  behalf  of  Mildred,  in 
the  breast  of  the  noble-hearted  and  ingenuous  boy.  The 
latter  listened  with  respectful  attention,  as  had  been  his  wont, 
until,  deceived  by  the  tranquil  and  benevolent  manner  of 
Bluewater,  he  permitted  himself  to  fall  into  the  natural  delu 
sion  of  believing  the  wound  of  the  rear-admiral  less  serious 
than  he  had  supposed,  and  to  begin  to  entertain  hopes  that 
the  wounded  man  might  yet  survive.  Calmed  by  these  feel 
ings,  he  soon  ceased  to  weep  ;  and,  promising  discretion, 
was  permitted  by  Sir  Gervaise  to  remain  in  the  room,  where 
he  busied  himself  in  the  offices  of  a  nurse. 

Another  long  pause  succeeded  this  exciting  little  scene, 
during  which  Bluewater  lay  quietly  communing  with  him 
self  and  his  God.  Sir  Gervaise  wrote  orders,  and  read 
reports,  though  his  eye  was  never  off  the  countenance  of  his 
friend  more  than  a  minute  or  two  at  a  time.  At  length,  the 
rear-admiral  aroused  himself,  again,  and  began  to  take  an 
interest  once  more,  in  the  persons  and  things  around  him. 

"  Galleygo,  my  old  fellow-cruiser,"  he  said,  "  I  leave  Sir 
Gervaise  more  particularly  in  your  care.  As  we  advance 
in  life,  our  friends  decrease  in  numbers ;  it  is  only  those 
that  have  been  well  tried  that  we  can  rely  on." 

"  Yes,  Admiral  Blue,  I  knows  that,  and  so  does  Sir  Jarvy. 
Yes,  old  shipmates  before  young  'uns,  any  day,  and  old 
sailors,  too,  before  green  hands.  Sir  Jarvy's  Bowlderos  are 
good  plate-holders,  and  the  likes  of  that ;  but  when  it  comes 
to  heavy  weather,  and  a  hard  strain,  I  think  but  little  on 
Jem  all  put  together." 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  457 

"  By  the  way,  Oakes,"  said  Bluewater,  with  a  sudden  in 
terest  in  such  a  subject,  that  he  never  expected  to  feel  again, 
"  I  have  heard  nothing  of  the  first  day's  work,  in  which, 
through  the  little  I  have  gleaned  by  listening  to  those  around 
rne,  1  understand  you  took  a  two-decker,  besides  dismasting 
the  French  admiral  ?" 

"  Pardon  me,  Dick  ;  you  had  better  try  and  catch  a  little 
sleep ;  the  subject  of  those  two  days'  work  is  really  painful 
to  me." 

"  Well,  then,  Sir  Jarvy,  if  you  has  an  avarsion  to  telling 
the  story  to  Admiral  Blue,  I  can  do  it,  your  honour,"  put  in 
Galleygo,  who  gloried  in  giving  a  graphic  description  of  a 
sea-fight.  "  I  thinks,  now,  a  history  of  that  day  will  com 
fort  a  flag-hofficer  as  has  been  so  badly  wounded  himself." 

Bluewater  offering  no  opposition,  Galleygo  proceeded 
with  his  account  of  the  evolutions  of  the  ships,  as  we  have 
already  described  them,  succeeding  surprisingly  well  in  ren 
dering  the  narrative  interesting,  and  making  himself  perfectly 
i intelligible  and  clear,  by  his  thorough  knowledge,  and  ready 
use,  of  the  necessary  nautical  terms.  When  he  came  to 
the  moment  in  which  the  English  line  separated,  part  pass 
ing  to  windward,  and  part  to  leeward  of  the  two  French 
ships,  he  related  the  incident  in  so  clear  and  spirited  a  man 
ner,  that  the  commander-in-chief  himself  dropped  his  pen, 
and  sate  listening  with  pleasure. 

"  Who  could  imagine,  Dick,"  Sir  Gervaise  observed, 
"  that  those  fellows  in  the  tops  watch  us  so  closely,  and 
could  give  so  accurate  an  account  of  what  passes !" 

"  Ah  !  Gervaise,  and  what  is  the  vigilance  of  Galleygo  to 
that  of  the  All-seeing  eye !  It  is  a  terrible  thought,  at  an 
hour  like  this,  to  remember  that  nothing  can  be  forgotten. 
I  have  somewhere  read  that  not  an  oath  is  uttered  that  does 
not  continue  to  vibrate  through  all  time,  in  the  wide-spread 
ing  currents  of  sound — not  a  prayer  lisped,  that  its  record 
is  not  also  to  be  found  stamped  on  the  laws  of  nature,  by  the 
indelible  seal  of  the  Almighty's  will  !" 

There  was  little  in  common  between  the  religious  impres 
sions  of  the  two  friends.  They  were  both  sailors,  and 
though  the  word  does  not  necessarily  imply  that  they  were 
sinners  in  an  unusual  degree,  neither  does  it  rigidly  imply 
that  they  were  saints.  Each  had  received  the  usual  ele- 
39 


458  1HE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

mentary  education,  and  then  each  had  been  turned  adrift 
as  it  might  be,  on  the  ocean  of  life,  to  suffer  the  seed  to  take 
root,  and  the  fruit  to  ripen  as  best  the,y  might.  Few  of 
those  "  who  go  down  to  the  great  deep  in  ships,"  and  who 
escape  the  more  brutalizing  effects  of  lives  so  rude,  are  al 
together  without  religious  impressions.  Living  so  much 
as  it  were,  in  the  immediate  presence  of  the  power  of  God, 
the  sailor  is  much  disposed  to  reverence  his  omnipotence, 
even  while  he  transgresses  his  laws ;  but  in  nearly  all  those 
instances  in  which  nature  has  implanted  a  temperament  in 
clining  to  deep  feelings,  as  was  the  case  with  Bluewater, 
not  even  the  harsh  examples,  nor  the  loose  or  irresponsible 
lives  of  men  thus  separated  from  the  customary  ties  of  so 
ciety,  can  wholly  extinguish  the  reverence  for  God  which  is 
created  by  constantly  dwelling  in  the  presence  of  his  earthly 
magnificence.  This  sentiment  in  Bluewater  had  not  been 
altogether  without  fruits,  for  he  both  read  and  reflected 
much.  Sometimes,  though  at  isolated  and  distant  intervals, 
he  even  prayed ;  and  that  fervently,  and  with  a  strong  and 
full  sense  of  his  own  demerits.  As  a  consequence  of  this 
general  disposition,  and  of  the  passing  convictions,  his  mind 
was  better  attuned  for  the  crisis  before  him,  than  would  have 
been  the  case  with  most  of  his  brethren  in  arms,  who,  when 
overtaken  with  the  fate  so  common  to  the  profession,  are 
usually  left  to  sustain  their  last  moments  with  the  lingering 
enthusiasm  of  strife  and  victory. 

On  the  other  hand,  Sir  Gervaise  was  as  simple  as  a  child 
in  matters  of  this  sort.  He  had  a  reverence  for  his  Creator, 
and  such  general  notions  of  his  goodness  and  love,  as  the 
well-disposed  are  apt  to  feel ;  but  all  the  dogmas  concerning 
the  lost  condition  of  the  human  race,  the  mediation,  and  the 
power  of  faith,  floated  in  his  mind  as  opinions  not  to  be  con 
troverted,  and  yet  as  scarcely  to  be  felt.  In  short,  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  admitted  the  practical  heresy,  which  over 
shadows  the  faith  of  millions,  while  he  deemed  himself  to  be 
a  stout  advocate  of  church  and  king.  Still,  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes,  on  occasions,  was  more  than  usually  disposed  to 
seriousness,  and  was  even  inclined  to  be  devout ;  but  it  was 
without  much  regard  to  theories  or  revelation.  At  such 
moments,  while  his  opinions  would  not  properly  admit  him 
within  the  pale  of  any  Christian  church,  in  particular,  his 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  459 

.feelings  might  have  identified  him  with  all.  In  a  word,  we 
apprehend  he  was  a  tolerably  fair  example  of  what  vague 
generalities,  when  acting  on  a  temperament  not  indisposed 
to  moral  impressions,  render  the  great  majority  of  men ;  who 
flit  around  the  mysteries  of  a  future  state,  without  alighting 
either  on  the  consolations  of  faith,  or  discovering  any  of 
those  logical  conclusions  which,  half  the  time  unconsciously 
to  themselves,  they  seem  to  expect.  When  Bluewater  made 
his  last  remark,  therefore,  the  vice-admiral  looked  anxiously 
at  his  friend ;  and  religion  for  the  first  time  since  the  other 
received  his  hurt,  mingled  with  his  reflections.  He  had  de 
voutly,  though  mentally,  returned  thanks  to  God  for  his 
victory,  but  it  had  never  occurred  to  him  that  Bluewater 
might  need  some  preparation  for  death. 

"  Would  you  like  to  see  the  Plantagenet's  chaplain,  again, 
Dick?"  he  said,  tenderly;  "  you  are  no  Papist;  of  that  I 
am  certain." 

"  In  that  you  are  quite  right,  Gervaise.  I  consider  all 
churches — the  one  holy  Catholic  church,  if  you  will,  as  but 
a  means  furnished  by  divine  benevolence  to  aid  weak  men 
in  their  pilgrimage ;  but  I  also  believe  that  there  is  even  a 
shorter  way  to  his  forgiveness  than  through  these  common 
avenues.  How  far  I  am  right,"  he  added,  smiling,  "  none 
will  probably  know  better  than  myself,  a  few  hours  hence." 

"  Friends  must  meet  again,  hereafter,  Bluewater ;  it  is 
irrational  to  suppose  that  they  who  have  loved  each  other 
so  well  in  this  state  of  being,  are  to  be  for  ever  separated  in 
the  other." 

"  We  will  hope  so,  Oakes,"  taking  the  vice-admiral's 
hand ;  "  we  will  hope  so.  Still,  there  will  be  no  ships  for 
us — no  cruises — no  victories — no  triumphs  !  It  is  only  at 
moments  like  this,  at  which  I  have  arrived,  that  we  come  to 
view  these  things  in  their  proper  light.  Of  all  the  past, 
your  constant,  unwavering  friendship,  gives  me  the  most 
pleasure !" 

The  vice-admiral  could  resist  no  longer.  He  turned  aside 
and  wept.  This  tribute  to  nature,  in  one  so  manly,  was 
imposing  even  to  the  dying  man,  and  Galleygo  regarded  it 
with  awe.  Familiar  as  the  latter  had  become  with  his  mas 
ter,  by  use  and  indulgence,  no  living  being,  in  his  estima 
tion,  was  as  authoritative  or  as  formidable  as  the  com- 


460  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

mander-in-chief;  and  the  effect  of  the  present  spectacle, 
was  to  induce  him  to  hide  his  own  face  in  self-abasement, 
Blue  water  saw  it  all,  but  he  neither  spoke,  nor  gave  any 
token  of  his  observation.  He  merely  prayed,  and  that  right 
fervently,  not  only  for  his  friend,  but  for  his  humble  and 
uncouth  follower. 

A  reaction  took  place  in  the  system  of  the  wounded  man, 
about  nine  o'clock  that  night.  At  this  time  he  believed 
himself  near  his  end,  and  he  sent  for  Wycherly  and  his 
niece,  to  lake  his  leave  of  them.  Mrs.  Dutton  was  also  pre 
sent,  as  was  Magrath,  who  remained  on  shore,  in  attend 
ance.  Mildred  lay  for  half  an  hour,  bathing  her  uncle's 
pillow  with  her  tears,  until  she  was  removed  at  the  sur 
geon's  suggestion. 

"  Ye  '11  see,  Sir  Gervaise,"  he  whispered  —  (or  "  Sir  Jair- 
vis/'  as  he  always  pronounced  the  name,) — "  ye  '11  see,  Sir 
Jairvis,  that  it's  a  duty  of  the  faculty  to  prolong  life,  even 
when  there  's  no  hope  of  saving  it ;  and  if  ye  '11  be  regaird- 
ing  the  judgment  of  a  professional  man,  Lady  Wychecombe 
had  better  withdraw.  It  would  really  be  a  matter  of  honest 
exultation  for  us  Plantagenets  to  get  the  rear-admiral  through 
the  night,  seeing  that  the  surgeon  of  the  Caesar  said  he  could 
no  survive  the  setting  sun." 

At  the  moment  of  final  separation,  Bluewater  had  little 
to  say  to  his  niece.  He  kissed  and  blessed  her  again  and 
again,  and  then  signed  that  she  should  be  taken  away.  Mrs. 
Dutton,  also,  came  in  for  a  full  share  of  his  notice,  he  hav 
ing  desired  her  to  remain  after  Wycherly  and  Mildred  had 
quitted  the  room. 

"  To  your  care  and  affection,  excellent  woman,"  he  said, 
in  a  voice  that  had  now  sunk  nearly  to  a  whisper — "  we 
owe  it,  that  Mildred  is  not  unfit  for  her  station.  Her  reco 
very  would  have  been  even  more  painful  than  her  loss,  had 
she  been  restored  to  her  proper  family,  uneducated,  vulgar, 
and  coarse." 

"  That  could  hardly  have  happened  to  Mildred,  sir,  in  any 
circumstances,"  answered  the  weeping  woman.     "  Nature 
has  done  too  much  for  the  dear  child,  to  render  her  any 
thing  but  delicate  and  lovely,  under  any  tolerable  circum 
stances  of  depression." 

"  She  is  better  as  she  is,  and  God  be  thanked  that  he  rais- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  461 

ed  up  such  a  protector  for  her  childhood.  You  have  been 
all  in  all  to  her  in  her  infancy,  and  she  will  strive  to  repay 
it  to  your  age." 

Of  this  Mrs.  Dutton  felt  too  confident  to  need  assurances  ; 
and  receiving  the  dying  man's  blessing,  she  knelt  at  his  bed 
side,  prayed  fervently  for  a  few  minutes,  and  withdrew.  Af 
ter  this,  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  track  occurred  until 
past  midnight,  and  JVlagrath,  more  than  once,  whispered  his 
joyful  anticipations  that  the  rear-admiral  would  survive  un 
til  morning.  An  hour  before  day,  however,  the  wounded 
man  revived,  in  a  way  that  the  surgeon  distrusted.  He 
knew  that  no  physical  change  of  this  sort  could  well  hap 
pen  that  did  not  arise  from  the  momentary  ascendency  of 
mind  over  matter,  as  the  first  is  on  the  point  of  finally  aban 
doning  its  earthly  tenement ;  a  circumstance  of  no  unusual 
occurrence  in  patients  of  strong  and  active  intellectual  pro 
perties,  whose  faculties  often  brighten  for  an  instant,  in  their 
last  moments,  as  the  lamp  flashes  and  glares  as  it  is  about 
to  become  extinct.  Going  to  the  bed,  he  examined  his  pa 
tient  attentively,  and  was  satisfied  that  the  final  moment 
was  near. 

"  You  're  a  man  and  a  soldier,  Sir  Jairvis,"  he  said,  in 
a  low  voice,  "  and  it  '11  no  be  doing  good  to  attempt  mislead 
ing  your  judgment  in  a  case  of  this  sort.  Our  respectable 
friend,  the  rear-admiral,  is  articulo  mortis,  as  one  might 
almost  say  ;  he  cannot  possibly  survive  half  an  hour." 

Sir  Gervaise  started.  He  looked  around  him  a  little  wist 
fully  ;  for,  at  that  moment,  he  would  have  given  much  to  be 
alone  with  his  dying  friend.  But  he  hesitated  to  make  a  re 
quest  which,  it  struck  him,  might  seem  improper.  From  this 
embarrassment,  however,  he  was  relieved  by  Bluewater  him 
self,  who  had  the  same  desire,  without  the  same  scruples 
about  confessing  it.  He  drew  the  surgeon  to  his  side,  and 
whispered  a  wish  to  be  left  alone  with  the  commander-in- 
chief. 

"  Well,  there  will  be  no  trespass  on  the  rules  of  practice 
in  indulging  the  poor  man  in  his  desire,"  muttered  Magrath, 
as  he  looked  about  him  to  gather  the  last  of  his  professional 
instiuments,  like  the  workman  who  is  about  to  quit  one 
place  of  toil  to  repair  to  another;  "  a.nd  I  '11  just  be  indulg 
ing  him." 

39* 


462  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

So  saying,  he  pushed  Galley  go  and  Geoffrey  from  the 
room  before  him,  left  it  himself,  and  closed  the  door. 

Finding  himself  alone,  Sir  Gervaise  knelt  at  the  side  of 
the  bed  and  prayed,  holding  the  hand  of  his  friend  in  both 
his  own.  The  example  of  Mrs.  Button,  and  the  yearnings 
of  his  own  heart,  exacted  this  sacrifice  ;  when  it  was  over 
he  felt  a  great  relief  from  sensations  that  had  nearly  choked 
him. 

"  Do  you  forgive  me,  Gervaise  ?"  whispered  Bluewater. 

"  Name  it  not — name  it  not,  my  best  friend.  We  all 
have  our  moments  of  weakness,  and  our  need  of  pardon. 
May  God  forget  all  my  sins,  as  freely  as  I  forget  your  er 
rors  !" 

"  God  bless  you,  Oakes,  and  keep  you  the  same  simple- 
minded,  true-hearted  man,  you  have  ever  been." 

Sir  Gervaise  buried  his  face  in  the  bed-clothes,  and 
groaned. 

"  Kiss  me,  Oakes,"  murmured  the  rear-admiral. 

In  order  to  do  this,  the  commander-in-chief  rose  from  his 
knees  and  bent  over  the  body  of  his  friend.  As  he  raised 
himself  from  the  cheek  he  had  saluted,  a  benignant  smilo 
gleamed  on  the  face  of  the  dying  man,  and  he  ceased  to 
breathe.  Near  half  a  minute  followed,  however,  before  the 
last  and  most  significant  breath  that  is  ever  drawn  from 
man,  was  given.  The  remainder  of  that  night  Sir  Ger 
vaise  Oakes  passed  in  the  chamber  alone,  pacing  the  floor, 
recalling  the  many  scenes  of  pleasure,  danger,  pain,  and 
triumph  through  which  he  and  the  dead  had  passed  in  com 
pany.  With  the  return  of  light,  he  summoned  the  attend 
ants,  and  retired  to  his  tent. 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS 


CHAPTEE  XXXI. 

"  And  they  came  for  the  buried  king  that  ky 

At  rest  i'n  that  ancient  fane ; 
For  he  must  be  armed  on  the  battle  day, 

With  them  to  deliver  Spain  ! 
— Then  the  march  went  sounding  on, 
And  the  Moors,  by  noontide  sun, 
Were  dust  on  Tolosa's  plain." 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

IT  remains  only  to  give  a  rapid  sketch  of  the  fortunes  of 
our  principal  characters,  and  of  the  few  incidents  that  are 
more  immediately  connected  with  what  has  gone  hefore. 
The  death  of  Bluewater  was  announced  to  the  fleet  at  sun 
rise,  by  hauling  down  his  flag  from  the  mizzen  of  the  Ceesar 
The  vice-admiral's  flag  came  down  with  it,  and  re-appeared 
at  the  next  minute  at  the  fore  of  the  Plantagenet.  But  the 
little  white  emblem  of  rank  never  went  aloft  again  in  honour 
of  the  deceased.  At  noon,  it  was  spread  over  his  coffin,  on 
the  main-deck  of  the  ship,  agreeably  to  his  own  request ; 
and  more  than  once  that  day,  did  some  rough  old  tar  use 
it,  to  wipe  the  tear  from  his  eyes. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  day  after  the  death  of  one  of  our 
heroes,  the  wind  came  round  to  the  westward,  and  all  the 
vessels  lifted  their  anchors,  and  proceeded  to  Plymouth. 
The  crippled  ships,  by  this  time,  were  in  a  state  to  carry 
more  or  less  sail,  and  a  stranger  who  had  seen  the  melan 
choly-looking  line,  as  it  rounded  the  Start,  would  have  fan 
cied  it  a  beaten  fleet  on  its  return  to  port.  The  only  signs 
of  exultation  that  appeared,  were  the  jacks  that  were  flying 
over  the  white  flags  of  the  prizes  ;  and  even  when  all  had 
anchored,  the  same  air  of  sadness  reigned  among  these  vic 
torious  mariners.  The  body  was  landed,  with  the  usual 
forms ;  but  the  procession  of  warriors  of  the  deep  that  fol 
lowed  it,  was  distinguished  by  a  gravity  that  far  exceeded 
the  ordinary  aspects  of  mere  form.  Many  of  the  captains, 
and  Greenly  in  particular,  had  viewed  the  manoeuvring  of 
Bluewater  wi-.h  surprise,  and  the  latter  hot  altogether  with 


464  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

out  displeasure ;  but  his  subsequent  conduct  had  completely 
erased  these  impressions,  leaving  no  other  recollection  con 
nected  with  his  conduct  that  morning  than  the  brilliant 
courage,  and  admirable  handling  of  his  vessels,  by  which 
the  fortunes  of  a  nearly  desperate  day  had  been  retrieved. 
Those  who  did  reflect  any  longer  on  the  subject,  attributed 
the  singularity  of  the  course  pursued  by  the  rear-admiral,  to 
some  private  orders  communicated  in  the  telegraphic  signal, 
as  already  mentioned. 

It  is  unnecessary  for  us  to  dwell  on  the  particular  move 
ments  of  the  fleet,  after  it  reached  Plymouth.  The  ships 
were  repaired,  the  prizes  received  into  the  service,  and,  in 
due  time,  all  took  the  sea  again,  ready  and  anxious  to 
encounter  their  country's  enemies.  They  ran  the  careers 
usual  to  English  heavy  cruisers  in  that  age;  and  as  ships 
form  our  principal  characters  in  this  work,  perhaps  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  take  a  general  glance  at  their  several  for 
tunes,  together  with  those  of  their  respective  commanders. 
Sir  Gervaise  fairly  wore  out  the  Plantagenet,  which  vessel 
was  broken  up  three  years  later,  though  not  until  she  had 
carried  a  blue  flag  at  her  main,  more  than  two  years. 
Greenly  lived  to  be  a  rear-admiral  of  the  red,  and  died  of 
yellow-fever  in  the  Island  of  Barbadoes.  The  Caesar,  with 
Stowel  still  in  command  of  her,  foundered  at  sea  in  a  win 
ter's  cruise  in  the  Baltic,  every  soul  perishing.  This  cala 
mity  occurred  the  winter  succeeding  the  summer  of  our 
legend,  and  the  only  relieving  circumstance  connected  with 
the  disaster,  was  the  fact  that  her  commander  got  rid  of 
Mrs.  Stowel  altogether,  from  that  day  forward.  The  Thun 
derer  had  her  share  in  many  a  subsequent  battle,  and  Foley, 
her  captain,  died  rear-admiral  of  England,  and  a  vice-admi 
ral  of  the  red,  thirty  years  later.  The  Carnatic  was  com 
rnanded  by  Parker,  until  the  latter  got  a  right  to  hoist  & 
blue  flag  at  the  mizzen  ;  which  was  done  for  just  one  day, 
to  comply  with  form,  and  then  both  ship  and  admiral  were 
laid  aside,  as  too  old  for  further  use.  It  should  be  added, 
however,  that  Parker  was  knighted  by  the  king  on  board 
his  own  ship ;  a  circumstance  that  cast  a  halo  of  sunshine 
over  the  close  of  the  life  of  one,  who  had  commenced  his 
career  so  humbly,  as  to  render  this  happy  close  more  than 
equal  to  his  expectations.  Ir  direct  opposition  to  this,,  it 


THE     TWO     ADMIRALS.  465 

may  be  said  here,  that  Sir  Gervaise  refused,  for  the  third 
time,  to  be  made  Viscount  Bowldero,  with  a  feeling  just  the 
reverse  of  that  of  Parker's  ;  for,  secure  of  his  social  position, 
and  careless  of  politics,  he  viewed  the  elevation  with  an 
indifference  that  was  a  natural  consequence  enough  of  his 
own  birth,  fortune,  and  high  character.  On  this  occasion, 
—  it  was  after  another  victory,  —  George  II.  personally 
alluded  to  the  subject,  remarking  that  the  success  we  have 
recorded  had  never  met  with  its  reward ;  when  the  old  sea 
man  let  out  the  true  secret  of  his  pertinaciously  declining 
an  honour,  about  which  he  might  otherwise  have  been  sup 
posed  to  be  as  indifferent  to  the  acceptance,  as  to  the  refusal. 
"  Sir,"  he  answered  to  the  remark  of  the  king,  "  I  am  duly 
sensible  of  your  majesty's  favour ;  but,  I  can  never  consent  to 
receive  a  patent  of  nobility  that,  in  my  eyes,  will  always 
seem  to  be  sealed  with  the  blood  of  my  closest  and  best 
friejid."  This  reply  was  remembered,  and  the  subject  was 
never  adverted  to  again. 

The  fate  of  the  Blenheim  was  one  of  those  impressive 
blanks  that  dot  the  pages  of  nautical  history.  She  sailed  for 
the  Mediterranean  alone,  and  after  she  had  discharged  her 
pilot,  was  never  heard  of  again.  This  did  not  occur,  how 
ever,  until  Captain  Sterling  had  been  killed  on  her  decks,  in 
one  of  Sir  Gervaise's  subsequent  actions.  The  Achilles  was 
suffered  to  drift  in,  too  near  to  some  heavy  French  batteries, 
before  the  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle  was  signed  ;  and,  after 
every  stick  had  been  again  cut  out  of  her,  she  was  compelled 
to  lower  her  flag.  His  earldom  and  his  courage,  saved  Lord 
Morganic  from  censure  ;  but,  being  permitted  to  go  up  to 
Paris,  previously  to  his  exchange,  he  contracted  a  matrimo 
nial  engagement  with  a  celebrated  danseuse,  a  craft  that  gave 
him  so  much  future  employment,  that  he  virtually  abandoned 
his  profession.  Nevertheless,  his  name  was  on  the  list  of 
vice-admirals  of  the  blue,  when  he  departed  this  life.  The 
Warspite  and  Captain  Goodfellow  both  died  natural  deaths ; 
one  as  a  receiving-ship,  and  the  other  as  a  rear-admiral  of 
the  white.  The  Dover,  Captain  Drinkwater,  was  lost  in 
attempting  to  weather  Scilly  in  a  gale,  when  her  commander 
and  quite  half  her  crew,  were  drowned.  The  York  did 
many  a  hard  day's  duty,  before  her  time  arrived  ;  but,  in 
the  end,  she  was  so  much  injured  in  a  general  action  as  to 


466  THE      TWO     ADMIRALS 

be  abandoned  and  set  fire  to,  at  sea.  Her  commander 
was  lost  overboard,  in  the  very  first  cruise  she  took, 
after  that  related  in  this  work.  The  Elizabeth  rotted  as  a 
guard-ship,  in  the  Medway  ;  and  Captain  Blakely  retired 
from  the  service  with  one  arm,  a  yellow  admiral.  The 
Dublin  laid  her  bones  in  the  cove  of  Cork,  having  been  con 
demned  after  a  severe  winter  passed  on  the  north  coast. 
Captain  O'Neil  was  killed  in  a  duel  with  a  French  officer, 
after  the  peace ;  the  latter  having  stated  that  his  ship  had 
run  away  from  two  frigates  commanded  by  the  Chevalier. 
The  Chloe  was  taken  by  an  enemy's  fleet,  in  the  next  war ; 
but  Captain  Denham  worked  his  way  up  to  a  white  flag  at 
the  main,  and  a  peerage.  The  Druid  was  wrecked  that 
very  summer,  chasing  inshore,  near  Bordeaux  ;  and  Blewet, 
in  a  professional  point  of  view,  never  regained  the  ground 
he  lost,  on  this  occasion.  As  for  the  sloops  and  cutters,  they 
went  the  way  of  all  small  cruisers,  while  their  nampless 
commanders  shared  the  usual  fates  of  mariners. 

Wycherly  remained  at  Wychecombe  until  the  interment 
of  his  uncle  took  place  ;  at  which,  aided  by  Sir  Reginald's 
influence  and  knowledge,  and,  in  spite  of  Tom's  intrigues, 
he  appeared  as  chief  mourner.  The  affair  of  the  succession 
was  also  so  managed  as  to  give  him  very  little  trouble. 
Tom,  discovering  that  his  own  illegitimacy  was  known,  and 
seeing  the  hopelessness  of  a  contest  against  such  an  antago 
nist  as  Sir  Reginald,  who  knew  quite  as  much  of  the  facts 
as  he  did  of  the  law  of  the  case,  was  fain  to  retire  from  the 
field.  From  that  moment,  no  one  heard  anything  more  of 
the  legacies.  In  the  end  he  received  the  £20,000,  in  the 
five  per  cents,  and  the  few  chattels  Sir  Wycherly  had  a  right 
to  give  away  ;  but  his  enjoyment  of  them  was  short,  as  he 
contracted  a  severe  cold  that  very  autumn,  and  died  of  a 
malignant  fever,  in  a  few  weeks.  Leaving  no  will,  his  pro 
perty  escheated ;  but  it  was  all  restored  to  his  two  uterine 
brothers,  by  the  liberality  of  the  ministry,  and  out  of  respect 
to  the  long  services  of  the  baron,  which  two  brothers,  it  will 
be  remembered,  alone  had  any  of  the  blood  of  YV^ychecombe 
in  their  veins  to  boast  of.  This  was  disposing  of  the  savings 
of  both  the  baronet  and  the  judge,  with  a  very  suitable 
regard  to  moral  justice. 

Wycherly  also  appeared,  though  it  was  in  company  with 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  467 

Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  as  one  of  the  principal  mourners  at  the 
funeral  obsequies  of  Admiral  Bluewater.  These  were  of  a 
public  character,  and  took  place  in  Westminster  Abbey. 
The  carriages  of  that  portion  of  the  royal  personages  who 
were  not  restrained  by  the  laws  of  court-etiquette,  appeared 
in  the  procession  ;  and  several  members  of  that  very  family 
that  the  deceased  regarded  as  intruders,  were  present  incog, 
at  his  last  rites.  This,  however,  was  but  one  of  the  many 
illusions  that  the  great  masquerade  of  life  is  constantly  offer 
ing  to  the  public  gaze. 

There  was  little  difficulty  in  establishing  the  claims  of 
Mildred,  to  be  considered  the  daughter  of  Colonel  Bluewater 
and  Agnes  Hedworth.  Lord  Bluewater  was  soon  satisfied ; 
and,  as  he  was  quito  indifferent  to  the  possession  of  his  kins 
man's  money,  an  acquisition  he  neither  wished  nor  expected, 
the  most  perfect  good- will  existed  between  the  parties. 
There  was  more  difficulty  with  the  Duchess  of  Glamorgan, 
who  had  acquired  too  many  of  the  notions  of  very  high 
rank,  to  look  with  complacency  on  a  niece  that  had  been 
educated  as  the  daughter  of  a  sailing-master  in  the  navy. 
She  raised  many  objections,  while  she  admitted  that  she 
had  been  the  confidant  of  her  sister's  attachment  to  John 
Bluewater.  Her  second  son,  Geoffrey,  did  more  to  remove 
her  scruples  than  all  the  rest  united  ;  and  when  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes,  in  person,  condescended  to  make  a  journey  to  the 
Park,  to  persuade  her  to  examine  the  proofs,  she  could  not 
well  decline.  As  soon  as  one  of  her  really  candid  mind 
entered  into  the  inquiry,  the  evidence  was  found  to  be  irre 
sistible,  and  she  at  once  yielded  to  the  feelings  of  nature. 
Wycherly  had  been  indefatigable  in  establishing  his  wife's 
claims — more  so,  indeed,  than  in  establishing  his  own;  and, 
at  the  suggestion  of  the  vice-admiral  —  or,  admiral  of  the 
white,  as  he  had  become  by  a  recent  general  promotion — 
he  consented  to  accompany  the  latter  in  this  visit,  wait 
ing  at  the  nearest  town,  however,  for  a  summons  to  the 
Park,  as  soon  as  it  could  be  ascertained  that  his  presence 
would  be  agreeable  to  its  mistress. 

"  If  my  niece  prove  but  half  as  acceptable  in  appearance, 
as  my  nephew,  Sir  Gervaise,"  observed  the  duchess,  when 
the  young  Virginian  was  introduced  to  her,  and  laying  stress 
on  the  word  we  have  italicised — "  nothing  can  be  wanting 


468  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

to  the  agreeables  of  this  new  connection.  I  am  impatient, 
now,  to  see  my  niece ;  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  has  pre 
pared  me  to  expect  a  young  woman  of  more  than  common 
merit." 

"  My  life  on  it,  duchess,  he  has  not  raised  your  expecta 
tions  too  high.  The  poor  girl  is  still  dwelling  in  her  cot 
tage,  the  companion  of  her  reputed  mother ;  but  it  is  time, 
Wychecombe,  that  you  had  claimed  your  bride." 

"  I  expect  to  find  her  and  Mrs.  Dutton  at  the  Hall,  on  my 
return,  Sir  Gervaise;  it  having  been  thus  arranged  betweea 
us.  The  sad  ceremonies  through  which  we  have  lately 
been,  were  unsuited  to  the  introduction  of  the  new  mistress 
to  her  abode,  and  the  last  had  been  deferred  to  a  more  fitting 
occasion." 

"  Let  the  first  visit  that  Lady  Wychecombe  pays,  be  to 
this  place,"  said  the  duchess.  "  I  do  not  command  it,  Sir 
Wycherly,  as  one  who  has  some  slight  claims  to  her  duty ; 
but  I  solicit  it,  as  one  who  wishes  to  possess  every  hold  upon 
her  love.  Her  mother  was  an  only  sister;  and  an  only 
sister's  child  must  be  very  near  to  one." 

It  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  Duchess  of  Gla 
morgan  to  have  said  as  much  as  this  before  she  saw  the 
young  Virginian ;  but,  now  he  had  turned  out  a  person  so 
very  different  from  what  she  expected,  she  had  lively  hopes 
in  behalf  of  her  niece. 

Wycherly  returned  to  Wychecombe,  after  this  short  visit 
to  Mildred's  aunt,  and  found  his  lovely  bride  in  quiet  pos 
session,  accompanied  by  her  mother.  Dutton  still  remained 
at  the  station,  for  he  had  the  sagacity  to  see  that  he  might 
not  be  welcome,  and  modesty  enough  to  act  with  a  cautious 
reserve.  But  Wycherly  respected  his  excellent  wife  too 
profoundly  not  to  have  a  due  regard  to  her  feelings,  in  all 
things ;  and  the  master  was  invited  to  join  the  party.  ^Bru 
tality  and  meanness  united,  like  those  which  belonged  to  the 
character  of  Dutton,  are  not  easily  abashed,  and  he  accept 
ed  the  invitation,  in  the  hope  that,  after  all,  he  was  to  reap 
as  many  advantages  by  the  marriage  of  Mildred  with  the 
affluent  baronet,  as  if  she  had  actually  been  his  daughter. 

After  passing  a  few  weeks  in  sober  happiness  at  home, 
Wycherly  felt  it  due  to  all  parties,  to  carry  his  wife  to  the 
''ark,  in  order  that  she  might  make  the  acquaintance  of  the 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  469 

near  relatives  who  dwelt  there.  Mrs.  Button,  by  invitation, 
was  of  the  party  ;  but  Button  was  left  behind,  as  having  no 
necessary  connection  with  the  scenes  and  the  feeliEEfs  that 
were  likely  to  occur.  It  would  be  painting  the  duchess  too 
much  en  beau,  were  we  to  say  that  she  met  Mildred  without 
certain  misgivings  and  fears.  But  the  first  glimpse  of  her 
lovely  niece  completely  put  natural  feelings  in  the  ascen 
dency.  The  resemblance  to  her  sister  was  so  strong  as  to 
cause  a  piercing  cry  to  escape  her,  and,  bursting  into  tears, 
she  folded  the  trembling  young  woman  to  her  heart,  with  a 
fervour  and  sincerity  that  set  at  naught  all  conventional 
manners.  This  was  the  commencement  of  a  close  intimacy  ; 
which  lasted  but  a  short  time,  however,  the  duchess  dying 
two  years  later. 

Wycherly  continued  in  the  service  until  the  peace  of  Aix- 
la-Chapelle,  when  he  finally  quitted  the  sea.  His  strong, 
native  attachments  led  him  back  to  Virginia,  where  all  his 
own  nearest  relatives  belonged,  and  where  his  whole  heart 
might  be  said  to  be,  when  he  saw  Mildred  and  his  children 
at  his  side.  With  him,  early  associations  and  habits  had 
more  strength  than  traditions  and  memorials  of  the  past. 
He  erected  a  spacious  dwelling  on  the  estate  inherited  from 
his  father,  where  he  passed  most  of  his  time  ;  consigning 
Wychecombe  to  the  care  of  a  careful  steward.  With  the 
additions  and  improvements  that  he  was  now  enabled  to 
make,  his  Virginian  estate  produced  even  a  larger  income 
than  his  English,  and  his  interests  really  pointed  to  the 
choice  he  had  made.  But  no  pecuniary  considerations  lay 
at  the  bottom  of  his  selection.  He  really  preferred  the 
graceful  and  courteous  ease  of  the  intercourse  which  charac 
terized  the  manners  of  James's  river.  In  that  age,  they 
were  equally  removed  from  the  coarse  and  boisterous  jollity 
of  the  English  country-squire,  and  the  heartless  convention 
alities  of  high  life.  In  addition  to  this,  his  sensitive  feelings 
rightly  enough  detected  that  he  was  regarded  in  the  mother- 
country  as  a  sort  of  intruder.  He  was  spoken  of,  alluded 
to  in  the  journals,  and  viewed  even  by  his  tenants  as  the 
American  landlord ;  and  he  never  felt  truly  at  home  in  the 
country  for  which  he  had  fought  and  bled.  In  England,  his 
rank  as  a  baronet  was  not  sufficient  to  look  down  these  lit 
tle  peculiarities ;  whereas,  in  Virginia,  it  gave  him  a  certain 
40 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

eclat)  that  was  grateful  to  one  of  the  main  weaknesses  of 
human  nature.  "  At  home,"  as  the  mother-country  was  then 
affectionately  termed,  he  had  no  hope  of  becoming  a  privy 
councillor ;  while,  in  his  native  colony,  his  rank  and  for 
tune,  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,  placed  him  in  the  coun 
cil  of  the  governor.  In  a  word,  while  Wycherly  found 
most  of  those  worldly  considerations  which  influence  men 
in  the  choice  of  their  places  of  residence,  in  favour  of  the 
region  in  which  he  happened  to  be  born,  his  election  was 
made  more  from  feeling  and  taste  than  from  anything  else. 
His  mmd  had  taken  an  early  bias  in  favour  of  the  usages 
and  opinions  of  the  people  among  whom  he  had  received  his 
first  impressions,  and  this  bias  he  retained  to  the  hour  of  his 
ieath. 

Like  a  true  woman,  Mildred  found  her  happiness  with  her 
husband  and  children.  Of  the  latter  she  had  but  three ;  a 
boy  and  two  girls.  The  care  of  the  last  was  early  com 
mitted  to  Mrs.  Button.  This  excellent  woman  had  remained 
at  Wychecombe  with  her  husband,  until  death  put  an  end  to 
his  vices,  though  the  close  of  his  career  was  exempt  from 
those  scenes  of  brutal  dictation  and  interference  that  had 
rendered  the  earlier  part  of  her  life  so  miserable.  Appre 
hension  of  what  might  be  the  consequences  to  himself,  acted 
as  a  check,  and  he  had  sagacity  enough  to  see  that  the 
physical  comforts  he  now  possessed  were  all  owing  to  the 
influence  of  his  wife.  He  lived  but  four  years,  however. 
On  his  death,  his  widow  immediately  took  her  departure  for 
America. 

It  would  be  substituting  pure  images  of  the  fancy  for  a 
picture  of  sober  realities,  were  we  to  say  that  Lady  Wyche 
combe  and  her  adopted  mother  never  regretted  the  land  of 
their  birth.  This  negation  of  feeling,  habits,  and  prejudices, 
is  not  to  be  expected  even  in  an  Esquimaux.  They  both 
had  occasional  strictures  to  make  on  the  climate,  (and  this 
to  Wycherly's  great  surprise,  for  he  conscientiously  believed 
that  of  England  to  be  just  the  worst  in  the  world,)  on  the 
fruits,  the  servants,  the  roads,  and  the  difficulty  of  procuring 
various  little  comforts.  But,  as  this  was  said  good-naturedly 
and  in  pleasantry,  rather  than  in  the  way  of  complaint,  it 
led  to  no  unpleasant  scenes  or  feelings.  As  all  three  made 
occasional  voyages  to  England,  where  his  estates,  and  more 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  471 

particularly  settlements  with  his  factor,  compelled  the  baro 
net  to  go  once  in  about  a  lustrum,  the  fruits  and  the  climate 
were  finally  given  up  by  the  ladies.  After  many  years, 
even  the  slip-shod,  careless,  but  hearty  attendance  of  the 
negroes,  came  to  be  preferred  to  the  dogged  mannerism  of 
the  English  domestics,  perfect  as  were  the  latter  in  their 
parts  ;  and  the  whole  subject  got  to  be  one  of  amusement, 
instead  of  one  of  complaint.  There  is  no  greater  mistake 
than  to  suppose  that  the  traveller  who  passes  once  through 
a  country,  with  his  home-bred,  and  quite  likely  provincial 
notions  thick  upon  him,  is  competent  to  describe,  with  due 
discrimination,  even  the  usages  of  which  he  is  actually  a 
witness.  This  truth  all  the  family  came,  in  time,  to  dis 
cover  ;  and  while  it  rendered  them  more  strictly  critical  in 
their  remarks,  it  also  rendered  them  more  tolerant.  As  it 
was,  few  happier  families  were  to  be  found  in  the  British 
empire,  than  that  of  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe  ;  its  head 
retaining  his  manly  and  protecting  affection  for  all  dependent 
on  him,  while  his  wife,  beautiful  as  a  matron  as  she  had 
been  lovely  as  a  girl,  clung  to  him  with  the  tenderness  of  a 
woman,  and  the  tenacity  of  the  vine  to  its  own  oak. 

Of  the  result  of  the  rising  in  the  north,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  say  much.  The  history  of  the  Chevalier's  successes  in 
the  first  year,  and  of  his  final  overthrow  at  Culloden,  is  well 
known.  Sir  Reginald  Wychecombe,  like  hundreds  of  others, 
played  his  cards  so  skilfully  that  he  avoided  committing 
himself;  and,  although  he  lived  and  eventually  died  a  sus 
pected  man,  he  escaped  forfeitures  and  attainder.  With  Sir 
Wycherly,  as  the  head  of  his  house,  he  maintained  a  friendly 
correspondency  to  the  last,  even  taking  charge  of  the  paternal 
estate  in  its  owner's  absence ;  manifesting  to  the  hour  of  his 
death,  a  scrupulous  probity  in  matters  of  money,  mingled  with 
an  inherent  love  of  management  and  intrigue,  in  things  that 
related  to  politics  and  the  succession.  Sir  Reginald  lived 
long  enough  to  see  the  hopes  of  the  Jacobites  completely 
extinguished,  and  the  throne  filled  by  a  native  Englishman. 

Many  long  years  after  the  events  which  rendered  the 
week  of  its  opening  incidents  so  memorable  among  its  actors, 
must  now  be  imagined.  Time  had  advanced  with  its  usual 
unfaltering  tread,  and  the  greater  part  of  a  generation  had 
been  gathered  to  their  fathers.  George  III.  had  been  on 


472  THE     TWO     ADMIRALS. 

the  throne  iiot  less  than  three-lustrums,  and  most  of  the  nn 
portant  actors  of  the  period  of  '4o,  were  dead ; — many  oi 
them,  in  a  degree,  forgotten.  But  each  age  has  its  own 
events  and  its  own  changes.  Those  colonies,  which  in  1745 
were  so  loyal,  so  devoted  to  the  house  of  Hanover,  in  the 
belief  that  political  and  religious  liberty  depended  on  the 
issue,  had  revolted  against  the  supremacy  of  the  parliament 
of  the  empire.  America  was  already  in  arms  against  the 
mother  country,  and  the  very  day  before  the  occurrence  of 
the  little  scene  we  are  about  to  relate,  the  intelligence  of  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill  had  reached  London.  Although  the 
gazette  and  national  pride  had,  in  a  degree,  lessened  the 
characteristics  of  this  most  remarkable  of  all  similar  com- 
bats,  by  exaggerating  the  numbers  of  the  colonists  engaged, 
and  lessening  the  loss  of  the  royal  troops,  the  impression 
produced  by  the  news  is  said  to  have  been  greater  than  any 
known  to  that  age.  It  had  been  the  prevalent  opinion  of 
England — an  opinion  that  was  then  general  in  Europe,  and 
which  descended  even  to  our  own  times  —  that  the  animals 
of  the  new  continent,  man  included,  had  less  courage  and 
physical  force,  than  those  of  the  old  ;  and  astonishment  min 
gled  with  the  forebodings  of  the  intelligent,  when  it  was 
found  that  a  body  of  ill-armed  countrymen  had  dared  to 
meet,  in  a  singularly  bloody  combat,  twice  their  number  of 
regular  troops,  and  that,  too,  under  the  guns  of  the  king's 
shipping  and  batteries.  Rumours,  for  the  moment,  were  rife 
in  London,  and  the  political  world  was  filled  with  gloomy 
anticipations  of  the  future. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  alluded  to,  Westminster  Ab 
bey,  as  usual,  was  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  curious  and 
interested.  Several  parties  were  scattered  among  its  aisles 
and  chapels,  some  reading  the  inscriptions  on  the  simple 
tablets  of  the  dead  which  illustrate  a  nation,  in  illustrating 
themselves ;  others  listening  to  the  names  of  princes  who 
derived  their  consequence  from  their  thrones  and  alliances; 
and  still  other  sets  who  were  wandering  among  the  more 
elaborate  memorials  that  have  been  raised  equally  to  illus 
trate  insignificance,  and  to  mark  the  final  resting-places  of 
more  modern  heroes  and  statesmen.  The  beauty  of  the 
weather  had  brought  out  more  visiters  than  Common,  and 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  41 

not  less  than  half-a-dozen  equipages  were  in  waiting,  i*, 
and  about  Palace  Yard.  Among  others,  one  had  a  ducal 
coronet.  This  carriage  did  not  fail  to  attract  the  attention 
that  is  more  than  usually  bestowed  on  rank,  in  England. 
All  were  empty,  however,  and  more  than  one  party  of  pe 
destrians  entered  the  venerable  edifice,  rejoicing  that  the 
view  of  a  duke  or  a  duchess,  was  to  be  thrown  in,  among 
the  other  sights,  gratuitously.  All  who  passed  on  foot, 
however,  were  not  influenced  by  this  vulgar  feeling ;  for, 
one  group  went  by,  that  did  not  even  cast  a  glance  at  the 
collection  of  carriages ;  the  seniors  of  the  party  being  too 
much  accustomed  to  such  things  to  lend  them  a  thought, 
and  the  juniors  too  full  of  anticipations  of  what  they  were 
about  to  see,  to  think  of  other  matters.  This  party  con 
sisted  of  a  handsome  man  of  fifty-odd,  a  lady  some  three  or 
four  years  his  junior,  well  preserved  and  still  exceedingly 
attractive  ;  a  young  man  of  twenty-six,  and  two  lovely  girls, 
that  looked  like  twins ;  though  one  was  really  twenty-one, 
and  the  other  but  nineteen.  These  were  Sir  Wycherly  and 
Lady  Wychecombe,  Wycherly  their  only  son,  then  just  re 
turned  from  a  five  years'  peregrination  on  the  continent  of 
Europe,  and  Mildred  and  Agnes,  their  daughters.  The  rest 
of  the  family  had  arrived  in  England  about  a  fortnight  be 
fore,  to  greet  the  heir  on  his  return  from  the  grand  tour^  as 
it  was  then  termed.  The  meeting  had  been  one  of  love, 
though  Lady  Wychecombe  had  to  reprove  a  few  innocent 
foreign  affectations,  as  she  fancied  them  to  be,  in  her  son ; 
and  the  baronet,  himself,  laughed  at  the  scraps  of  French, 
Italian  and  German,  that  quite  naturally  mingled  in  the 
young  man's  discourse.  All  this,  however,  cast  no  cloud 
over  the  party,  for  it  had  ever  been  a  family  of  entire  con 
fidence  and  unbroken  love. 

"  This  is  a  most  solemn  place  to  me,"  observed  Sir  Wy 
cherly,  as  they  entered  at  the  Poets'  corner,  "and  one  in 
which  a  common  man  unavoidably  feels  his  own  insignifi 
cance.  But,  we  will  first  make  our  pilgrimage,  and  look  at 
these  remarkable  inscriptions  as  we  come  out.  The  tomb 
we  seek  is  in  a  chapel  on  the  other  side  of  the  church,  near 
to  the  great  doors.  When  I  last  saw  it,  it  was  quite  alone." 

On  hearing  this,  the  whole  party  moved  on  ;  though  the 
40* 


474  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

two  lovely  young  Virginians  cast  wistful  and  curious  eyes 
behind  them,  at  the  wonders  by  which  they  were  sur 
rounded. 

"  Is  not  this  an  extraordinary  edifice,  Wycherly  ?"  half 
whispered  Agnes,  the  youngest  of  the  sisters,  as  she  clung 
to  one  arm  of  her  brother,  Mildred  occupying  the  other. 
-•  Can  the  whole  world  furnish  such  another  ?" 

"  So  much  for  hominy  and  James'  river  !"  answered  the 
young  man,  laughing — "  now  could  you  but  see  the  pile  at 
Rouen,  or  that  at  Rheims,  or  that  at  Antwerp,  or  even  that 
at  York,  in  this  good  kingdom,  old  Westminster  would  have 
to  fall  back  upon  its  little  tablets  and  big  names.  But  Sir 
Wycherly  stops ;  he  must  see  what  he  calls  his  land-fall." 

Sir  Wycherly  had  indeed  stopped.  It  was  in  conse 
quence  of  having  reached  the  head  of  the  choBur,  whence 
he  could  see  the  interior  of  the  recess,  or  chapel,  towards 
which  he  had  been  moving.  It  still  contained  but  a  single 
monument,  and  that  was  adorned  with  an  anchor  and  other 
nautical  emblems.  Even  at  that  distance,  the  words  "  RICH 
ARD  BLUEWATER,  REAR-ADMIRAL  OF  THE  WHITE,"  might 
be  read.  But  the  baronet  had  come  to  a  sudden  halt,  in 
consequence  of  seeing  a  party  of  three  enter  the  chapel,  in 
which  he  wished  to  be  alone  with  his  own  family.  The 
party  consisted  of  an  old  man,  who  walked  with  tottering 
steps,  and  this  so  much  the  more  from  the  circumstance 
that  he  leaned  on  a  domestic  nearly  as  old  as  himself, 
though  of  a  somewhat  sturdier  frame,  and  of  a  tall  imposing- 
looking  person  of  middle  age,  who  followed  the  two  with 
patient  steps.  Several  attendants  of  the  cathedral  watched 
this  party  from  a  distance  with  an  air  of  curiosity  and  re 
spect  ;  but  they  had  been  requested  not  to  accompany  it  to 
the  chapel. 

"  They  must  be  some  old  brother-officers  of  my  poor 
uncle's,  visiting  his  tomb !"  whispered  Lady  Wychecombe. 
"  The  very  venerahle  gentleman  has  naval  emblems  about 
his  attire.1' 

"  Do  you — can  you  forget  him,  love  ?  'Tis  Sir  Gervaise 
Oakes,  the  pride  of  England !  and  yet  how  changed  !  It 
is  now  five-and-twcnty  years  since  we  last  met;  still  I 
knew  him  at  a  glance.  The  servant  is  old  Galleygo,  his 


THE    TWO     ADMIRALS.  475 

Bteward ;  but  the  gentleman  with  him  is  a  stranger.  Let 
us  advance ;  we  cannot  be  intruders  in  such  a  place." 

Sir  Gervaise  paid  no  attention  to  the  entrance  of  the 
Wychecombes.  It  was  evident,  by  the  vacant  look  of  his 
countenance,  that  time  and  hard  service  had  impaired  his 
faculties,  though  his  body  remained  entire ;  an  unusual 
thing  for  one  who  had  been  so  often  engaged.  Still  there 
were  glimmerings  of  lively  recollections,  and  even  of  strong 
sensibilities  about  his  eyes,  as  sudden  fancies  crossed  his 
mind.  Once  a  year,  the  anniversary  of  his  friend's  inter- 
ment,  he  visited  that  chapel ;  and  he  had  now  been  brought 
here  as  much  from  habit,  as  by  his  own  desire.  A  chair 
was  provided  for  him,  and  he  sat  facing  the  tomb,  with  the 
large  letters  before  his  eyes.  Still  he  regarded  neither, 
though  he  bo  wed  courteously  to  the  salute  of  the  strangers. 
His  companion  at  first  seemed  a  little  surprised,  if  not  offend 
ed  at  the  intrusion;  but  when  Wycherly  mentioned  that 
they  were  relatives  of  the  deceased,  he  also  bowed  compla 
cently,  and  made  way  for  the  ladies. 

"  This  it  is  as  what  you  wants  to  see,  Sir  Jarvy,"  ob 
served  Galleygo,  jogging  his  master's  shoulder  by  way  of 
jcgoing  his  memory.  "  Them  'ere  cables  and  hanchors, 
ancTthat  'ere  mizzen-mast,  with  a  rear-admiral's  flag  a-fly- 
ing,  is  rigged  in  this  old  church,  in  honour  of  our  friend 
Admiral  Blue,  as  was ;  but  as  is  now  dead  and  gone  this 
many  a  long  year." 

"  Admiral  of  the  Blue,"  repeated  Sir  Gervaise  coldly. 
"  You  're  mistaken,  Galleygo,  I  'm  an  admiral  of  the  white, 
and  admiral  of  the  fleet  into  the  bargain.  I  know  my  own 
rank,  sir." 

"  I  knows  that  as  well  as  you  does  yourself,  Sir  Jarvy," 
answered  Galleygo,  whose  grammar  had  rather  become 
confirmed  than  improved,  by  time,  "  or  as  well  as  the  First 
Lord  himself.  But  Admiral  Blue  was  once  your  best  friend, 
arid  I  doesn't  at  all  admire  at  your  forgetting  him— one  of 
these  long  nights  you  '11  be  forgetting  me." 

"  1  beg  your  pardon,  Galleygo ;  I  rather  think  not.  I  re 
member  you,  when  a  very  young  man." 

"  Well,  and  so  you  mought  remember  Admiral  Blue,  if 
you  'd  just  try.  I  know'd  ye  both  when  young  luffs,  my 
self." 


476  THE    TWO    ADMIRALS. 

*'  This  is  a  painful  scene,"  observed  the  stranger  to  Sir 
Wycherly,  with  a  melancholy  smile.  "  This  gentleman  is 
now  at  the  tomb  of  his  dearest  friend ;  and  yet,  as  you  see, 
he  appears  to  have  lost  all  recollection  that  such  a  person 
ever  existed.  For  what  do  we  live,  if  a  few  brief  years  are 
to  render  our  memories  such  vacant  spots !" 

"  Has  he  been  long  in  this  way  ?"  asked  Lady  Wyche- 
combe,  with  interest. 

The  stranger  started  at  the  sound  of  her  voice.  He  looked 
intently  into  the  face  of  the  still  fair  speaker,  before  he  an 
swered  ;  then  he  bowed,  and  replied — 

"  He  has  been  failing  for  the  last  five  years,  though  his 
last  visit  here  was  much  less  painful  than  this.  But  are 
our  own  memories  perfect? — Surely,  I  have  seen  that  face 
before ! — These  young  ladies,  too — " 

"  Geoffrey  —  dear  cousin  Geoffrey  !"  exclaimed  Lady 
Wychccombe,  holding  out  both  her  hands.  "It  is — it  musi 
be  the  Duke  of  Glamorgan,  Wycherly!" 

No  further  explanations  were  needed.  All  the  parties  re 
cognised  each  other  in  an  instant.  They  had  not  met  for 
many — many  years,  and  each  had  passed  the  period  of  life 
when  the  greatest  change  occurs  in  the  physical  appearance  ; 
but,  now  that  the  ice  was  broken,  a  'flood  of  recollections 
poured  in.  The  duke,  or  Geoffrey  Cleveland,  as  we  prefer 
to  call  him,  kissed  his  cousin  and  her  daughters  with  frank 
affection,  for  no  change  of  condition  had  altered  his  simple 
sea-habits,  and  he  shook  hands  with  the  gentlemen,  with  a 
cordiality  like  that  of  old  times.  All  this,  however,  was 
unheeded  by  Sir  Gervaise,  who  sat  looking  at  the  monu 
ment,  in  a  dull  apathy. 

"  Galleygo,"  he  said ;  but  Galleygo  had  placed  himself 
before  Sir  Wycherly,  and  thrust  out  a  hand  that  looked  like 
a  bunch  of  knuckles. 

"  I  knows  ye !"  exclaimed  the  steward,  with  a  grin.  "  1 
know'd  ye  in  the  offing  yonder,  but  I  couldn't  make  out 
your  number.  Lord,  sir,  if  this  doesn't  brighten  Sir  Javvy 
up,  again,  and  put  him  in  mind  of  old  times,  I  shall  begin  to 
think  we  have  run  out  cable  to  the  better  end." 

"  I  will  speak  to  him,  duke,  if  you  think  it  advisable  ?" 
said  Sir  Wycherly,  in  an  inquiring  manner. 


THE     TWO    ADMIRALS.  477 

"  Galleygo,"  put  in  Sir  Gervaise,  "  what  lubber  fitted  thai 
? — he  has  turned  in  the  clench  the  wrong  way." 

«  Ay — ay — sir,  they  is  great  lubbers,  them  stone-cutters, 
Sir  Jarvy  ;  and  they  knows  about  as  much  of  ships,  as  ships 
knows  of  them.  But  here  is  young  Sir  Wycherly  Wychc- 
combe  come  to  see  you — the  old  'un's  nevy." 

"  Sir  Wycherly,  you  are  a  very  welcome  guest.  Bowl- 
dero  is  a  poor  place  for  a  gentleman  of  your  merit ;  but  such 
as  it  is,  it  is  entirely  at  your  service.  What  did  you  say  the 
gentleman's  name  was,  Galleygo  ?" 

"  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  the  young  'un — the  old  'un 
slipped  the  night  as  we  moored  in  his  house." 

"  I  hope,  Sir  Gervaise,  I  have  not  entirely  passed  from 
your  recollection ;  it  would  grieve  me  sadly  to  think  so. 
And  my  poor  uncle,  too  ;  he  who  died  of  apoplexy  in  your 
presence !" 

"  Nullus,  nulla,  nullum.  That 's  good  Latin,  hey !  Duke  ? 
NulKus,  nullius,  nullius.  My  memory  is  excellent,  gentle 
men  ;  nominative,  penna ;  genitive,  pennce,  and  so  on." 

"  Now,  Sir  Jarvy,  since  you're  veering  out  your  Latin,  / 
should  likes  to  know  if  you  can  tell  a  '  clove-hitch'  from  a 
•  carrick-bend  ?' " 

"  That  is  an  extraordinary  question,  Galleygo,  to  put  to 
an  old  seaman !" 

"  Well,  if  you  remembers  that,  why  can't  you  just  as 
reasonably  remember  your  old  friend,  Admiral  Blue  ?" 

"  Admiral  of  the  blue  !  I  do  recollect  many  admirals  of 
the  blue.  They  ought  to  make  me  an  admiral  of  the  blue, 
duke ;  I've  been  a  rear-admiral  long  enough." 

"  You  've  been  an  admiral  of  the  blue  once  ;  and  that 's 
enough  for  any  man,"  interrupted  Galleygo,  again  in  his 
positive  manner ;  "  and  it  isn't  five  minutes  since  you  know'd 
your  own  rank  as  well  as  the  Secretary  to  the  Admi 
ralty  himself.  He  veers  and  hauls,  in  this  fashion,  on  an 
idee,  gentlemen,  until  he  doesn't  know  one  end  of  it  from 
J'other." 

"  This  is  not  uncommon  with  men  of  great  age,"  observed 
the  duke.  "  They  sometimes  remember  the  things  of  their 
youth,  while  the  whole  of  later  life  is  a  blank.  I  have 
iremarked  this  with  our  venerable  friend,  in  whose  mind  I 


478  THE    TWO     ADMIRALS. 

think  it  will  not  be  difficult,  however,  to  revive  the  recol 
lection  of  Admiral  Bluewater,  and  even  of  yourself,  Sir 
Wycherly.  Let  me  make  the  effort,  Galleygo." 

"  Yes,  Lord  Geoffrey,"  for  so  the  steward  always  called 
the  quondam  reefer,  "  you  does  handle  him  more  like  a 
quick-working  boat,  than  any  on  us ;  and  so  I  '11  take  an 
hopportunity  of  just  overhauling  our  old  lieutenant's  young 
Juns,  and  of  seeing  what  sort  of  craft  he  has  set  afloat  for 
the  next  generation." 

"  Sir  Gervaise,"  said  the  Duke,  leaning  over  the  chair, 
"  here  is  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  who  once  served  a 
short  time  with  us  as  a  lieutenant ;  it  was  when  you  were 
in  the  Plantagenet.  You  remember  the  Plantagenet,  I  trust, 
my  dear  sir  ?" 

"  The  Plantagenets  1  Certainly,  duke  ;  I  read  all  about 
them  when  a  boy.  Edwards,  and  Henrys,  and  Richards — " 
at  the  last  name  he  stopped  ;  the  muscles  of  his  face  twitched, 
for  memory  had  touched  a  chord  that  was  always  sensitive. 
But  it  was  too  faintly,  to  produce  more  than  a  pause. 

"  There,  now,"  growled  Galleygo,  in  Agnes'  face,  he  being 
just  then  employed  in  surveying  her  through  a  pair  of  sil 
ver  spectacles  that  were  a  present  from  his  master,  "  you 
see,  he  has  forgotten  the  old  Planter ;  and  the  next  thing, 
he  '11  forget  to  eat  his  dinner.  It 's  wicked,  Sir  Jarvy,  to 
forget  such  a  ship." 

"  I  trust,  at  least,  you  have  not  forgotten  Richard  Blue- 
water  ?"  continued  the  Duke,  "  he  who  fell  in  our  last  action 
with  the  Comte  de  Vervillin  ?" 

A  gleam  of  intelligence  shot  into  the  rigid  and  wrinkled 
face ;  the  eye  lighted,  and  a  painful  smile  struggled  around 
the  lips. 

"  What,  Dick  /"  he  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  stronger  than 
that  in  which  he  had  previously  spoken.  "Dick  /  hey  ! 
duke '(  good,  excellent  Dick  ?  We  were  midshipmen  to 
gether,  my  lord  duke  ;  and  I  loved  him  like  a  brother  !" 

"  I  knew  you  did  !  and  I  dare  say  now  you  can  recollect 
the  melancholy  occasion  of  his  death  ?" 

"  Is  Dick  dead  ?"  asked  the  admiral,  with  a  vacant  gaze. 

"  Lord — Lord,  Sir  Jarvy,  you  knows  he  is,  and  that  'ere 
marvel  constructure  is  his  monerment — now  you  mutf,  re- 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  479 

member  the  old  Planter,  and  the  County  of  Fairvillian,  and 
the  threshing  we  guv'd  him  V 

"  Pardon  me,  Galleygo ;  there  is  no  occasion  for  warmth. 
When  I  was  a  midshipman,  warmth  of  expression  was  cfts- 
approved  of  by  all  the  elder  officers." 

"  You  cause  me  to  lose  ground,"  said  the  Duke,  looking 
at  the  steward  by  way  of  bidding  him  be  silent :  "  is  it  not 
extraordinary,  Sir  Wycherly,  how  his  mind  reverts  to  his 
youth,  overlooking  the  scenes  of  later  life !  Yes,  Dick  is 
dead,  Sir  Gervaise.  He  fell  in  that  battle  in  which  you  were 
doubled  on  by  the  French — when  you  had  le  Foudroyant 
on  one  side  of  you,  and  le  Pluton  on  the  other — " 

"  I  remember  it  /"  interrupted  Sir  Gervaise,  in  a  clear 
strong  voice,  his  eye  flashing  with  something  like  the  fire 
of  youth — "  I  remember  it !  Le  Foudroyant  was  on  our 
starboard  beam ;  le  Pluton  a  little  on  our  larboard  bow — 
Bunting  had  gone  aloft  to  look  out  for  Bluewater — no — poor 
Bunting  was  killed — " 

"  Sir  Wycherly  Wychecombe,  who  afterwards  married 
Mildred  Bluewater,  Dick's  niece,"  put  in  the  baronet,  him 
self,  almost  as  eager  as  the  admiral  had  now  become  ;  "  Sir 
Wycherly  Wychecombe  had  been  aloft,  but  was  returned 
to  report  the  Pluton  coming  down !" 

"  So  he  did  ! — God  bless  him  !  A  clever  youth,  and  he 
did  marry  Dick's  niece.  God  bless  them  both.  Well,  sir, 
you  're  a  stranger,  but  the  story  will  interest  you.  There 
we  lay,  almost  smothered  in  the  smoke,  with  one  two-decker 
at  work  on  our  starboard  beam,  and  another  hammering 
away  on  the  larboard  bow,  with  our  top-masts  over  the  side, 
and  the  guns  firing  through  the  wreck." 

"  Ay,  now  you  're  getting  it  like  a  book  !"  exclaimed  Gal 
leygo  exultingly,  flourishing  his  stick,  and  strutting  about 
the  little  chapel ;  "  that 's  just  the  way  things  was,  as  I 
knows  from  seeing  'em  !" 

"  I  'm  quite  certain  I  'm  right,  Galleygo  ?" 

"  Right !  your  honour 's  righter  than  any  log-book  in  the 
fleet.  Give  it  to  'em,  Sir  Jarvy,  larboard  and  starboard  !" 

"That  we  did— that  we  did"  —  continued  the,  old  man 
earnestly,  becoming  even  grand  in  aspect,  as  he  rose,  al 
ways  gentleman-like  and  graceful,  but  filled  with  all  his 
uative  fire,  "  that  did  we !  de  Vervillin  was  on  our  right, 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS 

and  des  Prez  on  our  left — the  smoke  was  choking  us  all — 
Bunting — no ;  young  Wychecombe  was  at  my  side ;  he  said 
a  fresh  Frenchman  was  shoving  in  between  us  and  le  Plu- 
ton,  oir — God  forbid  !  I  thought;  for  we  had  enough  of  them, 
^s  it  was.  There  she  comes  !  See,  here  is  her  flying-jib- 
booin-end — and  there — hey!  Wychecombe? — That's  the 
old  Roman,  shoving  through  the  smoke ! — Ccesar  himself! 
anil  there  stands  Dick  and  young  Geoffrey  Cleveland — he 
was  of  your  family,  duke — There  stands  Dick  Bluewater, 
'between  the  knight-heads,  waving  his  hat — HURRAH! — 
He's  true,  at  last!— He's  true,  at  last  — HURRAH! 
HURRAH!" 

The  clarion  tones  rose  like  a  trumpet's  blast,  and  the 
cheering  of  the  old  sailor  rang  in  the  arches  of  the  Abbey 
Church,  causing  all  within  hearing  to  start,  as  if  a  voice 
spoke  from  the  tombs.  Sir  Gervaise,  himself,  seemed  sur 
prised  ;  he  looked  up  at  the  vaulted  roof,  with  a  gaze  half- 
bewildered,  half-del  ightod, 

"  Is  this  Bowldero,  or  Glamorgan  House,  my  Lord  Duke," 
he  asked,  in  a  whisper. 

"  It  is  neither,  Admiral  Oakes,  but  Westminster  Abbey  ; 
and  this  is  the  tomb  of  your  friend,  rear-Admiral  Richard 
Bluewater." 

"  Galleygo,  help  me  to  kneel,"  the  old  i»ian  added  in  the 
manner  of  a  corrected  school-boy.  "  The  stoutest  of  us  all, 
should  kneel  to  God,  in  his  own  temple.  I  beg  pardon, 
gentlemen  ;  I  wish  to  pray." 

The  Duke  of  Glarmorgan  and  Sir  Wycherly  Wyche 
combe  helped  the  admiral  to  his  knees,  and  then  Galleygo, 
as  was  his  practice,  knelt  beside  his  master,  who  bowed  his 
head  on  his  man's  shoulders.  This  touching  spectacle 
brought  all  the  others  into  the  same  humble  attitude,  Wy 
cherly,  Mildred  and  their  children,  with  the  noble,  kneeling 
and  praying  in  company.  One  by  one,  the  latter  arose ; 
still  Galleygo  and  his  master  continued  on  the  pavement. 
At  length  Geoffrey  Cleveland  stepped  forward,  and  raised 
the  old  man,  placing  him,  with  Wycherly's  assistance,  in 
ihe  chair..  Here  he  sat,  with  a  calm  smile  on  his  aged  fea 
tures,  his  open  eyes  riveted  seemingly  on  the  name  of  his 
friend,  perfectly  dead.  There  had  been  a  reaction,  which 
suddenly  stopped  the  current  of  life,  at  the  heart. 


THE    TWO    ADMIRALS.  481 

Thus  expired  Sir  Gervaise  Oakes,  full  of  years  and  of 
honours ;  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  successful  of  Eng 
land's  sea-captains.  He  had  lived  his  time,  and  supplied  an 
instance  of  the  insufficiency  of  worldly  success  to  complete 
the  destiny  of  man ;  having,  in  a  degree,  survived  his  facul 
ties,  and  the  consciousness  of  all  he  had  done,  and  all  he 
merited.  As  a  small  offset  to  this  failing  of  nature,  he  had 
regained  a  glimmering  view  of  one  of  the  most  striking  scenes 
and  of  much  the  most  enduring  sentiment,  of  a  long  lifb 
which  God,  in  mercy,  permitted  to  be  terminated  in  the  act 
of  humble  submission  to  his  own  greatness  and  glory. 


THE  END. 


-A      T.I, 


48915 
1  Cooper,   J.   P. 

Novel  8  L     iTwO    adirn  fa 

955 
XC778 

1  fl  IfT       91 

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